Can blood sugar affect your mood, everything you need to know

 

Blood sugar levels can lead mood disorders

A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2021, shows  the significant  impacts  of sugar level on your mood disorders and mental health such as fatigue, trouble thinking clearly and anxiety.

Studies have revealed that if the blood glucose level is elevated or low, it can have direct effects on the mood and body of the patient.

Blood sugar swings can cause rapid changes in a person’s mood. These could include confusion, anxiety, irritability, and having jitters. When a person’s blood sugar returns to more normal ranges, these symptoms often go away. In fact, mood changes can be one of the first signs that blood sugar is too high or too low.

A low blood sugar level can result in confusion, hunger, coordination and decision-making difficulties, aggression and irritability, personality or behavior changes, concentration difficulties, and anxiety.

On the other hand,  a high blood sugar level can lead to depression, difficulty in thinking clearly and quickly, feeling nervous, feeling tired or having low energy, fatigue, headaches and even hallucinations. It can also slow down cognitive functioning and make you feel tired,

Altogether, these up-then-down blood sugar spikes and crashes spell bad news for your mood. Sugar can even act like a drug, triggering your brain’s reward neurotransmitter, dopamine. Even though you know that sugar negatively impacts your mood, you oddly crave more of those foods that leave you feeling bad.

It can lead to sudden mood changes that may place an emotional strain on relationships and personal life and even on the mental status on the blood sugar patient. In fact, research shows that sugar can be more addictive than cocaine.

Blood Sugar Levels,

Blood sugar is affected  by a variety of factors, including food. After a meal, the food you eat is broken down into glucose and either used right away for energy or stored for use later on. Glucose is also made by the liver and pancreas. In order for the cells to use glucose, the hormone insulin must be present. If you have diabetes your body either does not produce insulin or cannot use it properly. Without enough insulin your blood sugar levels can get too high. Non-diabetics can also experience fluctuations in blood sugar levels when skipping meals as a side effect of medications or from various other illnesses. Blood sugar levels are considered high if they climb to greater than 100mg/dL, and diabetes is diagnosed when the level reaches 126 mg/dL or more.

According to MedlinePlus. A blood sugar level below 70 mg/dL is considered low. Both high and low blood glucose levels can cause a variety of symptoms, including mood swings.

Nearly 50% of people with diabetes are thought to experience “diabetes distress” at some point during the management of their disease. Diabetes distress encompasses symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.

It is necessary to check your sugar level regularly to control

What is Diabetes Distress?,

Having diabetes can cause a condition called diabetes distress which shares some traits of stress, depression and anxiety. Unlike depression, diabetes distress can be linked back to causal factors related to diabetes. For example - fear of hypoglycemia or a very low level of blood sugar, may cause significant worry. Diabetes distress can also be affected by external factors like family and societal support and health care services.

It is estimated that 33 to 50 percent of people with diabetes will experience diabetes distress at some point.  While diabetes distress cannot typically be treated with medication, experts say that improving diabetes management to reduce stress, talk therapy and support groups can be helpful.

“The correlation between chronic illnesses and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety is extremely common globally. Diabetes distress shares some characteristics of anxiety and depression. The symptoms that come with this condition vary from physical to mental, so it is crucial to be considerate when dealing with a loved one with diabetes or be kind to yourself when you are suffering from this illness. ”- Dr Samir Parikh, Director, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences at Fortis Healthcare.

Some ways to Reduce Sugar & Optimize Mood,

The science of mood disorders is complex and multifactorial, and blaming one culprit in this case, sugar  could oversimplify the problem. If you suffer from debilitating anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders, please seek professional help.

Diabetes treatment teams need to be aware of the mind-body connection and whole person care. By establishing a routine of healthy habits, individuals with diabetes can reduce their distress and better manage their health.

- Maintain a healthy weight.

-Get off to the right start.

-Tame your sweet tooth.

- Eat foods that stabilize blood sugar levels.

-Pinpoint sneaky sugar sources.

- Increase mood-boosting foods.

-Get the right nutrients.

-Try this craving crusher.

-Find an exercise that you enjoy (and do it).

-Optimize sleep.

-Incorporate natural mood boosters.

-Manage stress levels.

-Try natural sugar alternatives.

-Check your blood sugar regularly

A diabetes diagnosis can be a life altering event. Whether it be type 1 diabetes where the body does not make any insulin at all or type 2 diabetes when the pancreas makes some insulin but not enough.

It is estimated that only around 1/3 of people with diabetes and mental health conditions receive a diagnosis and proper treatment. The American Diabetes Association standards of care recommend that treatment teams be complete with a mental health professional with expertise with the disease.