Having Mood Swings? Time to Check Your Blood Sugar
Highlights:
- Blood sugar levels can impact both physical health and emotional well-being, including mood swings, anxiety, and depression
- High blood sugar levels have been associated with anger or unhappiness, while low blood sugar levels have been associated with anxiety and confusion Managing blood sugar levels through dietary changes, such as reducing sugary beverages and refined carbohydrate intake and increasing protein and fiber consumption, can help to reduce mood swings and promote overall well-being
Many people suffer from depression, anxiety, and mood swings but are not even aware that the culprit behind all these symptoms could be their blood sugar.
Keeping an eye on sugar levels is one of the most significant things that diabetic patients can do to plan out their daily routine because a lot of lifestyle changes are dependent on these levels, and researchers and even doctors around the globe believe that lifestyle modification is the key mantra to keeping blood sugar levels in check (1✔).
Diabetes is not Just Restricted to the Pancreas but Affects the Entire Body
Blood sugar can impact various parts of our body that can range from physical health to emotional well-being, whether it's battling food urges or changing sleeping patterns.‘Although additional research is needed to confirm the link between mood and blood sugar, evaluating dietary and lifestyle consequences on prevalent mood disorders can rule out lesser-known causes’
It is true that blood sugar levels influence how you feel about something. If you have a sugar spike or a sugar deficiency, you may feel annoyed, happy one moment, and depressed the next.
Depression currently affects approximately 25% of diabetics, a population that is more prone to dramatic blood sugar highs and lows.
The diabetic population provides important information about the effects of blood sugar variability on both ends of the spectrum.
According to one study, women with diabetes who had irregular blood sugar levels had a lower quality of life and a negative mood. Higher blood glucose, or hyperglycemia, has historically been connected with anger or unhappiness among diabetics, whereas lower blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, has historically been associated with anxiousness.
Diabetes patients are not the only ones who can experience mood swings as a result of blood sugar variations. Those who consume a diet high in refined carbs and added sugars but are otherwise healthy may experience a fast spike in blood sugar, followed by an excessive insulin response, resulting in acute hypoglycemia.
A prospective study discovered a link between high sugar consumption and prevalent mental problems, finding that sugar consumption from sweet foods and beverages had a negative impact.
How to Spot Diabetes?
So, how do you spot these diabetic symptoms? Various researchers have summarised the following symptoms, along with mood swings, as an indicator to get your blood sugar tested.High blood sugar levels can cause you to feel:
- Irritated
- Nervous
- Confused
- Jittery
- Tired
- Lethargic
- Tense
- Angry
- Sad, tired, and unable to concentrate
Diabetes and Mood Swings: What to Do?
Stress can be Reduced and Managed
Stress has been proven to have a deleterious impact on blood glucose control. Hormonal alterations during acute and chronic stress, in particular, might impact glucose balance.
Boost your Protein and Fiber Consumption
Protein has a low glycemic index (GI), meaning it has little effect on blood sugar levels. Fibrous foods have been demonstrated to have a lower GI rating than refined alternatives.
Decrease your Use of Sugary Beverages and Refined Carbs
A diet high in refined carbohydrates, including sugary beverages, has a high GI value and is linked to blood sugar management instability.
Reference:
- Does glycemic variability impact mood and quality of life? - (https:pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22324383/)
Source: Medindia
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Dr. Krishanga. (2023, April 12). Having Mood Swings? Time to Check Your Blood Sugar. Medindia. Retrieved on Jul 08, 2024 from https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/having-mood-swings-time-to-check-your-blood-sugar-211323-1.htm.
MLA
Dr. Krishanga. "Having Mood Swings? Time to Check Your Blood Sugar". Medindia. Jul 08, 2024. <https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/having-mood-swings-time-to-check-your-blood-sugar-211323-1.htm>.
Chicago
Dr. Krishanga. "Having Mood Swings? Time to Check Your Blood Sugar". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/having-mood-swings-time-to-check-your-blood-sugar-211323-1.htm. (accessed Jul 08, 2024).
Harvard
Dr. Krishanga. 2023. Having Mood Swings? Time to Check Your Blood Sugar. Medindia, viewed Jul 08, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/having-mood-swings-time-to-check-your-blood-sugar-211323-1.htm.