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Panic attacks and diabetes

Wayne18000

Wayne18000

Well-Known Member
Messages
93
Hi all. Have been diagnosed with type 1 3 months ago but now they say am probably type 2. I inject lantus in the mornings and novorapid 3 times a day before meals. The thing is I've started having panic attacks indoors and out thinking that I'm having a hypo. It's absolutely terrifying. I scramble into my bag and take my blood sugar and more often than not it's fine. Even when I'm at home I feel a bit funny and fly into a panic and have to take my blood sugar and again it's normally fine. Sometimes it might be about 5 and I start to panic again and swig lucoz ade and munch on some biscuits to get it up. It's got to the point where I'm dreading having to go out. Has diabetes affected anyone else like this?

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Hi @Wayne18000 :)

There have been a number of threads and posts about 'hypo panic', particularly in the Type 1 section. I think it's quite common, especially after a bad hypo.

You're doing the right thing carrying your meter with you because then you can test and see that you're ok.

Can I ask if there's any particular times of day that this happens? And also, how are your blood sugars (in general, not when you feel panicky)?
 
Hi @Wayne18000 Sorry to hear your feeling like this, having hypos can induce anxiety when your early on in your diagnosis, you need to contact your team and get some support with this, so getting some counselling or access to a CGM to monitor your levels and re-build your confidence. Speaking from experience I suffered anxiety with hypos early on in diagnosis and it has definitely faded over time, now they are an inconvenience and nothing more, but when your are new to insulin and your diagnosis it's a lot to take on board, so try and take it easy and don't worry about testing more than usual, just make sure you are always carrying your hypo treatment.
 
Wayne18000 said:
Hi all. Have been diagnosed with type 1 3 months ago but now they say am probably type 2. I inject lantus in the mornings and novorapid 3 times a day before meals. The thing is I've started having panic attacks indoors and out thinking that I'm having a hypo. It's absolutely terrifying. I scramble into my bag and take my blood sugar and more often than not it's fine. Even when I'm at home I feel a bit funny and fly into a panic and have to take my blood sugar and again it's normally fine. Sometimes it might be about 5 and I start to panic again and swig lucoz ade and munch on some biscuits to get it up. It's got to the point where I'm dreading having to go out. Has diabetes affected anyone else like this?

Sent from my SM-G935F using Diabetes.co.uk Forum mobile app
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Hi wayne18000 I really feel for you and I have suffered with this myself I was so jealous of those who see lows rationally - as something that you can deal with. I did think it was just me but a very nice person on this forum told that hypo anxiety is very real and lots of diabetic people suffer from it. I have got a little better but I still have my bg a bit too high because I'm afraid to go low. I am also surgically attached to a meter and carry around multiple amounts of glucose! There's lots on the Internet to help but I have started trying to identify things are anxiety and those that are true hypo signs. When you feel this happening try and take a breath and analyse (I know that's not easy when you're clamoring to test) but just a few seconds before you put the strip in. I get a wave like feeling with a hypo that I don't get with anxiousness. Then try and guess the number on the machine -it does start to tune you into feelings I promise. Know that you are not alone
 
Wayne I know that this is easy for me to suggest but if you start to panic then you will produce adrenaline.This will invariably cause you to burn glucose more quickly than if you remain calm. As you are fairly newly diagnosed no one in the world can blame you for feeling a little bit nervous and panicking regarding hypoglycemia. Things will improve with time and experience. It might be a good idea to stash some fast acting glucose in some memorable locations around you. This can have the dual benefit of having stuff immediately to hand if you do have a hypo also it might help to offer you a little bit of piece of mind to know that you have a good easily reachable supply of fast acting glucose. In your post you mention Lucozade. You may know this already but Glaxo Smith Kline who produce Lucozde recently cut the sugar content by approximately 60% per bottle in what I personally believe was quite a cynical move. Once again please believe me, things will become more normal again with a little bit of time and experience.
 
I don't think panic is entirely down to fearing lows, although that is a not unreasonable fear in diabetics. Both panic and depression are common in diabetics, and I have suffered both. Perhaps it is a particular focus for you, but it may well be that it could as easily be a reaction that could have been about anything in your life. Use your meter to reassure yourself that you are ok when this happens and have the means with you to deal with any genuine lows and that may help to make you feel more secure. Hopefully things will improve for you with time, and any repeats in future will not be so worrying. You have done the right thing by asking about it, and now you know you are not alone and this can happen to any of us. Hang on in there!
 
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