Problems with mood swings

[helenkate]

Good Afternoon

This is the very first time I have use any diabetic supporting site/forum but having done a little research I thought this may help me as I am having a bad time at the present

I am 29 and had diabete's for 14 years. My diabetes is not very good at the moment high and low all the time, especially low at night. I am going to be put on the pump in January as the doctors feel 4 injections a day is not working for me anymore. This has got me down badly as feel I have failed and nervous about been strapped to a machine, but will do anything to improve my diabetes. Lately for the pass few months I have been having severe mood swings i go from angry, on edge, irritable to sad, crying and anxious. I stress and worry all the time about nothing and I never seem to be calm anymore.

It is making me very scared because I never know what is happening with me. My boyfriend is sick to the back teeth of it which I do not blame him but I honestly don't mean to be. But most of the time I feel sad, I feel very sad and lonely as no one I talk to understands me. I do not know why one minute I am happy, to angry, irritable to crying all in one day. I feel so guilty for taking it out on people who are close to me, when they are only trying to help.

I feel miserable with everything at the moment like I am stuck in a rut and if anyone has any advice I would apprepricate it because at the moment I just feel like they is something wrong with me.

thanks for taking the time to read this

Helen

 

[AlisonM]

There are quite a few folk using pumps here, in fact we have a whole section for them as it seems to be quite complicated (from an outsideer's perspective). I'm sure one of them will be along shortly though. You'll find plenty of support in here, whatever the issue, we seem to have someone around who'll understand it. It's good that you found us and i hope you'll soom feel at home and that we can help.

If your numbers have been high for a while that will likely affect your mood as will the fact that it may feel like you're helpless, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you, it's a normal human reaction to prolonged stress.

Welcome in and I hope you feel better soon.

 

[Northerner]

Hi Helen, welcome to the forum 🙂 Don't worry, you have found a whole load of people who understand exactly what you are going through! Your moods are no doubt largely due to your swinging levels and your anxiety about the pump. I've wondered myself how I would deal with having a pump 24/7, but I have read so many stories here about how you hardly even notice them after a very short time, so I am sure that I would be fine too. Do read some of the threads in the pumping section, and ask any questions you may have - we have lots of new and experienced pumpers who will help you all they can 🙂

Do NOT feel like a failure! Diabetes is a very complex condition to manage and it is never easy. Sometimes, as appears to be the case with you, the best way to manage it is with the flexibility of the pump. So don't feel like it's your fault and that this is some sort of punishment - it is just the way your diabetes needs to be controlled.

Please feel free to ask anything that is concerning you - nothing is considered silly! 🙂

 

[helenkate]

thank you so much for your help as I have never been on any forums before it is new to me. But feel it is time I got in contact with other diabetics as I dont feel understood by my family/friends/boyfriend I just feel like a failure. I think for many months my moods and worry has got worst just do not think I have related it to the diabetes
thanks

 

[Purple]

Hi Helen,

Firstly welcome to the forum 🙂

I'm sorry things are not going well for you at the moment.

Going on the pump is a good thing in my opinion! I urge you not to think of it as a failure because it really isn't! It is a highly adaptable tool that can be used to fine tune your treatment far more than you will ever be able to using injections. Seriously, I love my pump and the only way they could take it off me is by offering me an upgrade or by prising it from my cold dead hands!!! It's had a huge impact on my quality of life. Don't get me wrong, it's not easy! There are days where I want to take a hammer to it. But it's worth the effort in my opinion.

Hope you feel better soon,

Martin

 

[Flutterby]

Hello Helen, good to have you join us. Like Northy, I wonder how I'd cope with a pump but there are so many people on here with positive stories about using them that I think they can't all be wrong! As you say, if it gives you better control it will be a huge improvement for you. I'm sure you would then feel better in general as all the highs and lows are difficult to cope with, lets face it your brain is being deprived of sugar one minute and then swamped with it the next, no wonder we get mood swings. I think we always take it out on our nearest and dearest as well so don't be too hard on yourself.

It's horrible to feel sad and alone but you are not alone now - you have us lot!! I wonder how I ever managed without the support of the lovely people here and we also have a lot of laughs too on the "off the subject" and "joke" board.

Hope we can help you, and you will help us too as you will soon find yourself sharing your own knowledge to answer our questions. xx

 

[Andy HB]

Welcome to the forum helen! 🙂

I really hope we can help and remove some of the worry and feelings of failure that you are having.

As Northerner said it can be a complicated condition and even when you think it's been cornered and controlled, it wriggles free and you have to go chasing it again.

Andy

 

[helenkate]

thank you all I already feel better 😱 I did not expect that this would help but I like it because I have never met another diabetic before so I feel more understood.

I will now be able to keep people posted on the from injections to pump process. I get it fitted on 12th Jan so I am looking forward to it as I feel unwell at the moment just like I felt before I was diagnosed.

I never use to be moody or such a worrier

thanks again everyone

 

[bigpurpleduck]

Hi Helen,

A warm welcome to the forum 🙂

It sounds as though your pre-pump experiences, thoughts & emotions are very similar to mine before I started pumping. I didn't ask for a pump, but was offered it because I was struggling with my control. I felt a failure for not getting good control on injections, and didn't want to be attached to a pump 24/7. It took me a long time to decide to go for it.

I'll admit that in the first couple of weeks it was very weird wearing it, and having a tube going into my body made me feel more like an "ill" person than I ever had before. However, I noticed a difference in control & flexibility almost instantly. I distinctly remember going to the cinema a few days after starting on the pump: I had a tub of ice cream & took a bolus for it using the bolus wizard on the pump - when I left the cinema my BG was 7.4, and I almost hit the roof! I thought, "Finally, I can eat the foods I love without being punished by stupidly high BG!" And within a few weeks I was very used to wearing it - I feel it's a small price to pay for the better control & quality of life it gives me. I fell in love with the pump that night at the cinema, and have been in love with it ever since 🙂

It is hard work - but I've found that the hard work on a pump actually pays off, whereas on injections I was getting nowhere. My A1c on injections was stuck at 8.3%, and I couldn't get it down any further no matter how hard I tried. After 6 months of pumping my A1c was down to 7.1%. I feel much better now that my control has improved so much - my moods are much brighter, I suffer from colds, thrush, etc. much less and I have so much more energy!

It's understandable that you feel anxious about an insulin pump. After such a long time, you'll be used to injections, the regime & the ways of thinking. A whole new approach is scary. But I've never heard of anyone regretting the decision to switch to a pump. The scary changeover, figuring out how to sleep with it, finding the set changes a little fiddly... They all very quickly become a distant memory, and it's all so worth it. I would thoroughly recommend it.

Anyway, I'll end my super-long post here! Feel free to PM me with any questions you might have. As has been said, there are lots of pumpers on the forum, and everyone will be more than happy to help.

Finally, big hugs to you!

 

[Freddie99]

Hi Helen,

First things first, going onto a pump does not mean that you've failed. Prior to pumping my control wasn't great and I'd got as far as I could have on injections.
I know for certain that I was a little nervous to say the least when I started pumping at what was a rather difficult time in my life. It's quite a change and as with all changes it'll take a while to get used to.
The benefits do really outweigh the risks and I can't even begin to put the benefits that it's given me as there are so many.

Please feel free to send me a PM should you want to talk in private.

Tom

 

[Robster65]

Hi Helen. Welcome. 🙂

Hope you get on with the pump, as many do. I wouldn't want one at the moment, as my regime is working (at the moment). 🙄

The problem with the mood swings, is that they will, in themselves, make your control worse, which may in turn make your mood swings worse. It can become a vicious circle, and with you having little sympathetic support, you're bound to feel it's all your fault.

One thing you will get on the forum is sympathy and understanding, so sto blaming yourself and look forward to getting your control back, bit by bit. 🙂

Rob

 

[spiritfree]

Hello Helen. Going on to a pump is the best thing, d wise, that has happened.to me. After a very short time you will not even notice that you have it on. You will be able to get your bg's much more controlled. No way would I ever go back to injections. Good luck, I'm sure you will be fine. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions. P.S. Which pump will you be getting?

 

[helenkate]

Hi

Thank you for all comments. I cannot remember the name of the pump I get it shortly though.

This has been helpful

Helen😱

 

[Twitchy]

Hi Helen, sorry you've been feeling so sad, but you've found a wonderful place here! 🙂 I'm 32, have had T1 for nearly 32 yrs, latterly on multiple daily injections. I was given a pump back in sept & ...it's brilliant!! My doc first mentioned it literally years ago, but I was really unsure, dithered and by the time I'd realised it would be the only way for me to get good control I'd got pregnant & wasn't alowed to get one til I'd had the baby! 🙄 Blooming typical... I'll know to listen straight away next time he advises something lol!

I can totally relate to your unease, and the way Emma's described how she felt starting on the pump could be talking about my own experience! Initially, I felt really quite mixed emotions: my control was great almost immediately (I too get mood swings with BG swings, so that was a wonderful positive, yay!), but as I've never know any different than injections suddenly being attached to a medical device 24/7 actually felt "chronic" & suddenly all serious somehow... despite a few technical fumbles I haven't looked back though, it's been really, utterly wonderful. Like Purpleshadez said, they will have to prise this thing off me...or offer an upgrade lol!

As for friends & family... it can be so hard, can't it? My hubby's a really lovely, caring kind of guy but sometimes it feels like even he gets 'diabetes fatigue' & his eyes glaze over when I mention some issue / niggle. I really hope you feel at home here, and our shared experience & support gives you more confidence going forward on to a pump (& it really will be onward & upward, I promise!).

To put this in context - the penny dropped for me the other day that given that i was diagnosed at 11 months, this will be my first EVER Christmas (since weaning lol!) that I will reasonably hope to have good control - and I can't wait! Don't feel like a failure - this is like ditching an old banger that doesn't work well & getting given the keys to a ferrari!

All the best,

Twitchy x

 

[dizzielizzie]

Hi Helen

You sound just like what I've been. I've lost friends and nearly my boyfriend coz of my mood swings but since ive been on a low GI diet I've calmed down.

This may help you, you never know!

Lizzie xx

 

[Liz!]

OMG, I can sympathise. I have swung all my life and it doesn't make you a very nice person. But I improved such a lot on the pump - you feel SO much better, calmer... the ting is your body chemistry is all out of whack with te constant ups and downs, and even when your blood suagr is exactly right you still have left over problems from the last few days. IT IS NOT YOU. It is the diabetes and you will improve hugely once all your basal levels are put right on the pump.

You'll probably find by the sound of t that your insulin requirements trhough the night are very low - the long acting injection cannot replicate this so hopefully all will flal into place.

Hope it happens soon - you'll get use dto having the pump rweally quickly the technology is very easy to use, and there is a lot of help from the manufacturers, your nurses and Consultant and here!

Good luck. I had one of the first pumps as a pioneer in 1982 and had a lot of years off after that, finally getting another in 2000. The former ones put me off but they are briliant now!