Mood swings

[Wilmie02]

Hey guys, I'm finding that I'm getting worse & worse mood swings when I run high or low. Everything is sweet then I have these natural occurrences & my mood just DROPS. Making me both sad & angry. Is it a natural swing or is it me getting more wound up after all this time?

Cheers,
J

 

[rebrascora]

I think hormones can play a big role in mood swings as well as BG levels. Prevention is probably better than trying to figure out why, so trying to improve your BG management to avoid the highs and lows.... not easy I know but there are always little tweaks you can try to fine tune things and improve overall stability.
I think it is similar to alcohol consumption in that some people get really happy when they are drunk and some get maudlin and some get aggressive. It is quite an individual response. I am OK mood wise at low levels but if my BG gets very high I become much more emotional and less rational. OK I am probably not rational at low levels either but not argumentative or difficult thankfully. I think it would be very difficult to try to change that natural response so trying to limit the highs and lows might be the best thing to work on.

Are you on a pump or MDI?
Do you have Freestyle Libre?
How high or low do you go when the mood swings happen?
Are you aware of the mood swings or does the person/people you live with make you aware of it. It can be quite difficult for partners/family.
Are you physically active? Sports etc?

 

[Wilmie02]

Thanks Barbara,

Yes very active 29 year old. I have the libre & my Hba1c was 6.8% a couple weeks ago so in general I feel I'm in good control. It's more recently my short term mood swings seem to be getting worse. Like when it's great, it's really great & vice-versa.

 

[rebrascora]

What is your TIR % like on the Libre? That tends to give a better picture of your BG stability rather than HbA1c where highs and lows can cancel each other out a bit.

Are the mood swings definitely linked to highs and lows (ie when you feel low/angry is it just short term whilst your levels are low or high.... and how low high is it triggered??) or are you are you getting several days when your mood is low and then it comes back up? In which case could it be a mental health thing?.... Many people are experiencing problems in the current climate and diabetes certainly can add to that, making mental health problems much more common for us, so it is good to be aware and self monitor.
I have suffered with stress, anxiety and depression for many years (long before diagnosis) and I definitely have cycles where I will be doing great and then for no obvious reason, I descend into a dark place for a few days and then I come up again. I know from experience that I will come back up so I just keep my head down until I do, but just recently I have been managing a lot better, despite some emotional upheaval in my life. I have improved my routine of eating and sleeping and exercising and that has definitely helped.... It sounds like you are on top of the exercise, so maybe look at diet and sleep if it is a longer term thing than just an immediate drop in mood whilst your levels are low or high.
I know when I drop into a depression my BG levels will be raised and be persistently 8-12 and seem to ignore any corrections I make unless I get frustrated and inject a "rage" bolus. Then I drop into hypo and soon after back up to 8-12 again. I have learned to roll with it but as I say an improved routine has helped me recently, particularly the increased exercise and sleep.

 

[trophywench]

I only got like that in the menopause, frankly. A real red mist. I had it cured surgically - sigh of relief from everyone who knew me.

Worth having a chat with your GP anyway.