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Hi I'm a newbie... quick question regarding anxiety

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K

Kelbex

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Parent of person with diabetes
Hi, my daughter has been diagnosed T1 for nearly 5 years. I am worried at the moment, not sure if it is a bug she started with last week, as she had high BG for no reason, it was the first week back at high school yr 10. Over the weekend BG settled back down and again this morning returned from school, complaining of feeling sick, stomach pain and feeling similar to when she has a hypo. She has stated that is not the actual school work, but the thought of going to school, what makes her feel like this. She is very teary. Probably a stupid question but can the insulin injection or insulin she has been on for nearly 5 years start to make her have these symptoms or will it be a feeling of anxiety? If anyone has any answers I would appreciate it. As a parent I always relate back the cause will be a symptom of T1. Thanks
 
Hi @Kelbex Sorry your daughter isn’t feeling good. Certainly anxiety can cause symptoms like she’s describing. It can also cause high blood sugar. Have you been able to find out exactly what is concerning her about school? Is it worries about Covid? Bullying? The change of routine? Is there someone like a counsellor at her school she can talk to?

I wouldn’t think the insulin is contributing unless she’s veering from high to low. That can affect your emotional state, particularly going low.
 
Hi @Kelbex anxiety can definitely impact on glucose levels, and if they are high it can make you feel pretty rough and also emotional. I know the start of term for me would make my levels go bonkers when I was teaching. I found I had to adjust my insulin doses to match what I needed, and that is still a continuous requirement as the weather changes, stress levels alter, ....

As @Inka has said, it would be good if your daughter can say what it is that is worrying her. For some it may be simply the return to school, changes in friendship patterns, the missed work, and then in addition there may be the worry about being with so many people and the concerns about Covid. If she will open up to you that is great, or there may be support available from her diabetes team and/or a counsellor at school.

Is your daughter on a pump or injections? There is the possibility that the insulin might need changing, but I suspect it is more likely to be stress.
 
Thank you for your reply, I have asked the questions about bullying, worried about falling behind or struggling with work, she is adamant that this isnt the cause and just starts to feel sickly and stomach ache after first injection of the day and when walking to school. I have spoken to school councillor and they have spoken to her today and she knows that they are available to speak to if she would like to. It's so hard to identify any problem when your child has T1 as most of time symptoms are related hypos ir hypers. She has had excellent HBAIC 49 been taken just last week. So stressful at times. Thanks again, much appreciated
 
SB2015 said:
Hi @Kelbex anxiety can definitely impact on glucose levels, and if they are high it can make you feel pretty rough and also emotional. I know the start of term for me would make my levels go bonkers when I was teaching. I found I had to adjust my insulin doses to match what I needed, and that is still a continuous requirement as the weather changes, stress levels alter, ....

As @Inka has said, it would be good if your daughter can say what it is that is worrying her. For some it may be simply the return to school, changes in friendship patterns, the missed work, and then in addition there may be the worry about being with so many people and the concerns about Covid. If she will open up to you that is great, or there may be support available from her diabetes team and/or a counsellor at school.

Is your daughter on a pump or injections? There is the possibility that the insulin might need changing, but I suspect it is more likely to be stress.
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Thanks for the info... we are constantly juggling her ratios to adapt to her BG, as you mentioned weather, hormones have an effect. I will continue to monitor and offer her support and see how she goes. Hopefully it will settle but seems unlikely at moment as school isnt a regular routine with cases of covid been reported and year groups having to self isolate. I wondered if j should book her in at GP as Dianetic nurse mentioned IBS could be the cause of one of her symptoms.
 
Kelbex said:
Thank you for your reply, I have asked the questions about bullying, worried about falling behind or struggling with work, she is adamant that this isnt the cause and just starts to feel sickly and stomach ache after first injection of the day and when walking to school. I have spoken to school councillor and they have spoken to her today and she knows that they are available to speak to if she would like to. It's so hard to identify any problem when your child has T1 as most of time symptoms are related hypos ir hypers. She has had excellent HBAIC 49 been taken just last week. So stressful at times. Thanks again, much appreciated
Click to expand...

Could it be something she’s eaten in the morning? Or the timing of her breakfast? Is she too rushed?

Has she had a recent coeliac test? (Thinking about her abdominal symptoms)

If you don’t think it’s bullying or similar, then I’d try to go through possible physical causes, food and routine being an obvious one.
 
Good points, she isnt always hungry but will count for a glass of milk/orange juice and yogurt, something small... her routine has altered alot again with having to get up for school, so she is having insulin alot earlier than what she would have been if not at school.


Her coeliac test was negative, I asked if she would need another but DN said that it wouldnt have changed that much in less than 6 months.
Thank you for the advice, really appreciate the feedback as I often go round in circles with family not understanding the condition.
 
Counter-intuitive as it might sound, sometimes eating helps when you feel sick or unsettled. I find orange juice quite acidic on a morning stomach. Could she try something more solid? It doesn’t have to be anything large - just an experiment with a different breakfast. I wouldn’t have them every day but, for example, would she be ok eating a pack of the original type Belvita biscuits. They’re the kind of thing I go for when my tummy feels a bit ‘off’ in the morning. I also find leaving time to just be able to sit helps so I get up earlier so I can have that time.

If she’s had a coeliac test that recently, I’d think that was ok for now.
 
@Inka...that is really helpful and a good tip to try those on a morning every so often. I agree with the orange juice too acidic on a empty tummy. Thank you
 
Sorry to hear about your daughter not feeling well @Kelbex

It’s so difficult with a condition where feelings and emotions cause physical changes (messing with your BG levels), and symptoms of messed up BG levels can be feelings of anxiety, hunger, or nausea :(

Hopefully as she settles back into the rhythm of school, that initial burst of stress and anxiety (if that is contributing to the physical symptoms she is experiencing) will begin to fade, and some sort of equilibrium will be restored.
 
I hope things are back to normal for you soon and everything works out for your daughter. Such a worry.
 
Kelbex said:
@Inka...that is really helpful and a good tip to try those on a morning every so often. I agree with the orange juice too acidic on a empty tummy. Thank you
Click to expand...
Could pineapple juice be an alternative option? It isn't acidic and also contains lots of electrolytes - I use it with lemonda for a hangover cure!
 
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