Diabetes Affects Emotional Health Too
A new study found that diabetes affects more than just one’s physical health. It also impacts one’s emotional health, and the emotional roller coaster ride can affect diabetes management. It’s like a vicious cycle really.
Joe Solowiejczyk, a certified diabetes educator and a manager of diabetes counseling and training at the Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute in Milpitas, California, shared: “Diabetes gives you so much to worry about that it’s exhausting. It can make you feel powerless. I think it’s important to acknowledge that, from time to time, you’re going to have a meltdown. You’re going to have days when you feel exasperated, frustrated, sad, in denial and physically exhausted.”
It has previously been discovered that long periods of high blood-sugar levels in people with type 1 diabetes can trigger production of a hormone linked to depression. Uncontrolled diabetes may also worsen depression.
Hypoglycemia or low blood-sugar levels, which happen when someone has taken too much insulin or hasn’t eaten enough food, may cause irritability and agression. Hyperglycemia or high blood-sugar levels, on the other hand,
can make one feel weird, grouchy and uncomfortable.
Solowiejczyk explained “that the brain operates totally on glucose. When you don’t have enough glucose, things start breaking down and your cognitive function doesn’t work that well. This is a physiological, not an emotional, response.”
He added that managing emotions is important and people should be talking to their doctors or therapists about such mood changes. Diabetes is hard, and all of those feelings come along with the disease. But if you’re [irritable] and angry or if you’re sad all the time, you’re not going to take care of yourself.”
Tags: diabetes effects, diabetes leads to depression, diabetes risks, diabetes worsen depression
