Type 1 Paranoia or anxiety?

[Dalejordan_]

Has anyone else experienced paranoia or anxiety symptoms with diabetes? It’s getting to much now... anyone know what the doctors will do?

 

[Juicyj]

Hello @Dalejordan_ What are your blood glucose levels like when you get these feelings ?

Running high and low can both contribute to these feelings, so it may be worthwhile keeping a diary of your readings when you feel like this.

 

[Dalejordan_]

Hello @Dalejordan_ What are your blood glucose levels like when you get these feelings ?

Running high and low can both contribute to these feelings, so it may be worthwhile keeping a diary of your readings when you feel like this.

Thank you for the reply, I notice it when my bloods are up and down, so for example I went from 10 to 19 and usually when that happens I have anxiety for a couple of hours. It’s gets so extreme that i want to lock myself away before my head explodes I literally feel like the worlds coming to an end

 

[Scott-C]

Has anyone else experienced paranoia or anxiety symptoms with diabetes? It’s getting to much now... anyone know what the doctors will do?

I think pretty much all of us have had anxieties about it, Dale!

The worry about complications is the big one. It really worried me when I was first dx'd - complications seemed almost inevitable.

You've got all these docs saying the risk of this, that and the next thing is so much higher with T1, no wonder we worry about it.

But statistical risk is one thing, actual results are another. For other reasons, I was recently looking at the Scottish Diabetes Survey http://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/Publications.aspx?catId=3

The thing which surprised me was that even though the statistical risks say we're all doomed, the number of people who actually end up with serious complications is pretty small - in most cases, it's around 1 or 2 per cent of the total T1 population.

Or even less - one of the numbers in the Survey is that, out of a current 30,000 T1s in Scotland and all the others before since records began, there's 17 blind people. That's not a lot, and a testament to how effective our yearly eye screenings are.

Let's be hard but fair here - I think that a lot of the people who have complications are people who've just not bothered and think it's ok to run about in the 20s because they, "feel ok and don't get hypos".

Passage of time helps a lot. I'm 30 yrs in and am doing ok, no complications. I've not lived like a monk in those years - plenty of beers and eating out - but have tried to pay a bit of attention to levels.

I think I was anxious in the early years, but it's now more of a healthy respect - complications can kill, but I know how to keep myself generally in range, I've got this far without any difficulties, so I'm looking ok for the next 20 or 30 yrs.

Easy for me to say that after doing it for 30 yrs, but I say it because, if you're still finding your way in this, the chances are your anxieties will fade as time goes by if you pay attention to levels, get decent a1cs, good retinopathy screens.

All the evidence shows that if you pay attention to levels, you've not got a guarantee, but you've got a damned high chance of avoiding complications.

That's the long term picture. The shorter term picture is anxiety about hypos.

Sure, they're an acute medical problem which require immediate attention, but for someone like you, who, from your avatar pic, seem to be in your twenties/thirties, the chances of dying from a hypo are extreeeeemely small, fraction of a percent.

If you've taken a modest amount of insulin, it'll wear out after 5 hours max, and your liver will start kicking glucose out to lift you.

I've had some pretty lousy hypos in past years, mainly attributable to staying out on the lash till 3am during the Edinburgh Festival, but I've not died.

I had a few bad runs where I've been worried about going to sleep, but I'm still here.

I've cheated a bit over the last year: got a libre with a transmitter on top which bluetooths readings every 5 mins to my phone, phone rings if I drop below 4.3. Used to be anxious about hypos, but now I'm not, because my phone will wake me.

There's a million and one reasons to be anxious about T1, all perfectly understandable. Some of them can be kicked into touch by looking at the statistics, some can be sorted with some bling technology. They can all be sorted.

 

[Juicyj]

Hi @Dalejordan_ Just out of interest how long have you been diagnosed ?

I suffered very bad anxiety within a year of being diagnosed, admittedly I got alot of things wrong, so swung hypo/hyper daily and ended up seeing the GP about this who confirmed it was unstable BG levels that were fueling my feelings of anxiety. The best thing I did was to stablise my BG levels, so aimed to keep below 10 all day which was my goal, I found that by doing so these feelings went quickly, it also helped me to get clued up as much as I could to help control, so got a copy of 'Think like a pancreas', enrolled on any NHS course going and talked to other type 1's about how I could get my levels more stable.

I still get these feelings every so often when my control does go wrong, but on the whole I feel alot better now with tighter control.

 

[Dalejordan_]

Hi @Dalejordan_ Just out of interest how long have you been diagnosed ?

I suffered very bad anxiety within a year of being diagnosed, admittedly I got alot of things wrong, so swung hypo/hyper daily and ended up seeing the GP about this who confirmed it was unstable BG levels that were fueling my feelings of anxiety. The best thing I did was to stablise my BG levels, so aimed to keep below 10 all day which was my goal, I found that by doing so these feelings went quickly, it also helped me to get clued up as much as I could to help control, so got a copy of 'Think like a pancreas', enrolled on any NHS course going and talked to other type 1's about how I could get my levels more stable.

I still get these feelings every so often when my control does go wrong, but on the whole I feel alot better now with tighter control.

Thank you for the help! I used to get anxiety about going low! Not going high and since then it’s escalated I now worry about anything.. for example, meeting friends, worrying about my girlfriend leaving me or even going into a busy shop?! I’ve never had a panic attack or anything I just worry to the point where avoiding it is better then doing it

 

[Juicyj]

Hi @Dalejordan_ Yes the incentive to keep really good control is down to improved mental health too, something that gets over looked alot, some people don't get it of course, but others do, and it's only getting into the practice of keeping things as stable as possible, means a more confident and focused mind, for this reason I do low carb, so eat fat/protein, avoid carbs, snack on nuts, cheese, olives, eat soup/salads etc, it works for me, but it's about finding what you are comfortable with, I also exercise 3-5 times a week, running, cycling, walking, swimming and that also helps. You're not alone but please speak to your DSN about this, they may be quite supportive and can offer you help too.

 

[NewTD2]

The best thing to avoid complications is to have tight control.

With Diabetes, control is King whether it's T1 or T2.

 

[phdiabetic]

Anxiety is totally normal! It's fine to feel upset or worried when things go wrong. I get plenty of anxiety when I am low especially. Drink plenty, get some rest, and do something that you enjoy - put aside your chores/work for a while, and do something relaxing. Spend time with other people if that helps you, sometimes when my numbers are particularly unstable I feel better knowing there's someone who can help me if things go wrong. However, if you are experiencing unreasonable amounts of anxiety (and only you can decide on this) then talking to your doctor may be a good idea. It's normal and healthy to be a bit anxious, but if it's too much then professional help is the next step.

 

[Dalejordan_]

Thank you for all the support, I’m going to the doctors today to speak to someone. My nurse doesn’t think it’s related to my diabetes and thinks it’s just general anxiety!

 

[NewTD2]

What is your recommended target HBA1c for Type 1 by your doctor/diabetic team?

I'm Type 2 and were given a target of minimum 48mmols/l to avoid complications, anxiety and stress.