Hi there. I was recently diagnosed with type 2. Not on diabetes medication as glucose levels just above lower cusp but have v high cholesterol and am on statins since just a few weeks ago. Been struggling trying to find right foods to eat to help both these conditions plus I have IBS, which means a really bad time if I overdo the fibre. Had a bad time recently when I went to a party where there wasn't a buffet, I drank a bit too much then went to another 'do' the next day where the food was all cakes! Went home and felt like I was having a hypo...except I'm not on medication so can't have that! I think I maybe had a panic attack...sweating, trembling, dizzy, shortness of breath. It lasted for a couple of hours. Had a shortness of breath in a shop the other day, completely out of the blue. Went to another party yesterday and felt really anxious and trembly. History of depression before all this diabetes stuff kicked off. Anyone else here been in same situation?
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Anxiety attacks
- Thread starter blamistru
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Northerner
Admin (Retired)
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- Type 1
Hi blamistru, welcome to the forum 🙂 I'm guessing that you haven't been prescribed test strips and given a blood glucose meter? If so, that's a shame, as it would be very useful to be able to test your blood glucose levels when you feel this way. There are two possible causes: one, that your levels had risen high, and the second that your levels were lower than you have been used to. In the latter case, because your brain detects that your levels have fallen much lower than you are used to, it sends out the panic signals of a low blood glucose even though your levels may still be in normal range. This is called a 'false hypo' and can normally be alleviated by having a small biscuit to restore your brain's faith that you are not starving yourself 🙂
Testing is also the best way to determine what elements of your diet are suitable and what you may need to change. There is no simple 'diet sheet' of what you can eat as a person with diabetes as people's reactions can vary a great deal, even when eating the same things - you need to discover what works (and what doesn't) for you. There are some general principles that can help - I would recommend reading The GL Diet for Dummies as a useful guide to learning how to eat food that will have a gentler overall effect on your levels. Also, so you can get to grips with what it all means, I would urge you to get a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker, and read Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter. Have a look in our Useful links thread for links to other good resources.
If the problems continue, do speak to your GP about them, and try and persuade them to prescribe some test strips! 🙂
Testing is also the best way to determine what elements of your diet are suitable and what you may need to change. There is no simple 'diet sheet' of what you can eat as a person with diabetes as people's reactions can vary a great deal, even when eating the same things - you need to discover what works (and what doesn't) for you. There are some general principles that can help - I would recommend reading The GL Diet for Dummies as a useful guide to learning how to eat food that will have a gentler overall effect on your levels. Also, so you can get to grips with what it all means, I would urge you to get a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker, and read Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter. Have a look in our Useful links thread for links to other good resources.
If the problems continue, do speak to your GP about them, and try and persuade them to prescribe some test strips! 🙂
Sheila of Eskdale
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
Your pancreas tires to produce insulin to balance the sugar in your body. If you've eaten things where the sugar gets into your bloodstream quickly the pancreas can't keep up so you get hyper. However with those sorts of sugars it also drops quicker than the pancreas can reduce the insulin so then you get a hypo.
Anxiety and stress triggers our body's fight or flight system, its our stoneage system to deal with being attacked but these days kicks in for any perceived danger which can be any cause of stress. This triggers adrenalin are tries to put stored glucose into the bloodstream. So can cause a hypo but the two things are interrelated. If there is not enough glucose there you get more anxious because you're not getting the energy you need to deal with what the body is treating as danger. So a hypo can cause an anxiety attack with even small amounts of stress.
Also our body learns "danger" by association. So once you have had a bad experience in a certain type of situation, your body will get stressed going into a similar situation.
If you are female it is also important to know that some females get hypos around the time of their period, and emotions can also be affected by the hormones.
Also note that "IBS" can also be caused by stress, in fact it may be more of a cause than diet.
If you're going out try and find out what sort of food is going to be available. People really should cater for diabetics as a matter of course. Even non-diabetics might not want to go to a party where the only food was cakes. If there's not going to be suitable food then have something suitable before you go.
You also might benefit from some strategies for coping with stress and anxiety. Have you tried your local Mind group, they are generally good at that sort of thing.
Anxiety and stress triggers our body's fight or flight system, its our stoneage system to deal with being attacked but these days kicks in for any perceived danger which can be any cause of stress. This triggers adrenalin are tries to put stored glucose into the bloodstream. So can cause a hypo but the two things are interrelated. If there is not enough glucose there you get more anxious because you're not getting the energy you need to deal with what the body is treating as danger. So a hypo can cause an anxiety attack with even small amounts of stress.
Also our body learns "danger" by association. So once you have had a bad experience in a certain type of situation, your body will get stressed going into a similar situation.
If you are female it is also important to know that some females get hypos around the time of their period, and emotions can also be affected by the hormones.
Also note that "IBS" can also be caused by stress, in fact it may be more of a cause than diet.
If you're going out try and find out what sort of food is going to be available. People really should cater for diabetics as a matter of course. Even non-diabetics might not want to go to a party where the only food was cakes. If there's not going to be suitable food then have something suitable before you go.
You also might benefit from some strategies for coping with stress and anxiety. Have you tried your local Mind group, they are generally good at that sort of thing.
Thanks folks. I spoke to my nurse the other day and she stressed the importance of eating regularly. I've had the IBS for over a decade and, unfortunately it doesn't agree with too much veg or pulses etc. I'm pretty sure the anxiety, which has always been there, is now worse because of my worry about eating the wrong things. there's a history of diabetes and heart-disease in my family and I'm determined to stave off effects for as long as possible. Is it usual to be so stressed when you don't even have to worry about taking any diabetes medication? I can't decide if I'm over-reacting or not.
p.s In both party situations, I'd eaten beforehand and I didn't eat the cakes lol The last party I went to only had quite fatty foods on offer but I decided to hell with it and ate what was on offer...but in moderation. I also only had one glass of wine that night and did feel better for the abstinence. Also, watching everyone else get steadily drunker and drunker was really funny 🙂
Janie_com
New Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
When my sugar drops quickly, I get panic like feelings, my pulse speeds up and I feel strange....but once you know what happening, you no longer panic and I either wait for the liver dump, or I go make myself a milky drink..and within ten min or so I start to feel better....
When I first started low carbing I got this a lot, because my sugar had been at a much higher level...so your body throws a false hypo...once you get your levels lower it sorts itself out....
But it is scary when you have no idea what's happening....and that makes you panic more.....
Janie x
When I first started low carbing I got this a lot, because my sugar had been at a much higher level...so your body throws a false hypo...once you get your levels lower it sorts itself out....
But it is scary when you have no idea what's happening....and that makes you panic more.....
Janie x
jalapino
Chilli Man
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Sounds awful what you are going through....plus I think once you do have a "panic attack" no matter what the reason is, either a false hypo or just not eaten etc it tends to stick with you and can make you feel anxious......I used to get a lot of panic attacks apx 5 years ago, but now I tend to calm my self so this does not happen....unless I have a hypo.....which then I just need a sugar burst!!!
The brain is a funny thing indeed!! 🙄
The brain is a funny thing indeed!! 🙄
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