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Amidst the fast-paced modern lifestyle and stressful daily routine, diabetes has become a common health problem. But have you ever thought that your sudden mood swings, irritability over conversation, excessive sadness or unnecessary anxiety are not just the result of work stress, but the uncontrolled blood sugar level in your body could be responsible for it? Medical science and modern research confirm that this physical metabolic disease directly affects our mental health. When the amount of glucose in the blood suddenly fluctuates, it directly affects the parts of the brain that control emotions, energy and mood. When we delve into this invisible relationship from a reporter’s perspective, it becomes extremely important to understand how this cycle of diabetes and mental health works and what its side effects can be.
Direct equation between blood sugar fluctuations and brain chemistry
Our body requires a steady amount of glucose i.e. sugar to function smoothly, which mainly serves as fuel for our brain. When a person has diabetes, either his body does not produce enough insulin or the cells are not able to use the insulin properly. In this condition, when the blood sugar level suddenly falls too low (called hypoglycemia) or when it rises too high (hyperglycemia), the nutrition to the brain cells is disrupted. Neurotransmitters in the brain like serotonin and dopamine, which keep our mood happy and calm, get out of balance. Due to this chemical imbalance, a person sometimes suddenly starts feeling extremely angry and sometimes feels deep stress or depression without any apparent reason.
Patients suffering from diabetes distress and chronic anxiety
Mental health problems in diabetic patients increase almost twice as fast as the general population. It is also known as ‘Diabetes Distress’ in the medical world. Constantly worrying about what to eat, what not to eat, whether the medicines have been taken on time or not, and whether the blood sugar might spike – this constant mental pressure exhausts the patient’s mind. Additionally, when sugar levels remain high in the body for a long time, it can cause inflammation in the parts of the brain that are responsible for memory and emotional control. This is why symptoms of mood swings, anxiety, panic attacks and chronic depression start emerging rapidly in patients with uncontrolled diabetes.
Dangerous vicious circle of depression and type-2 diabetes
This connection between diabetes and mental health is like a two-way street, which creates a vicious cycle. Researchers believe that people who are already suffering from severe stress, depression or anxiety have a manifold increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes in the future due to lifestyle disturbances and high levels of cortisol (stress hormone). On the other hand, when a healthy person is diagnosed with diabetes, the sudden restrictions in his lifestyle and the uncertainty surrounding his health push him into mental depression. When the patient is in depression, he stops following his diet, exercise and taking medicines on time, due to which his blood sugar becomes more unbalanced. In this way disease and mental stress continuously promote each other.
Identifying early signs of mood swings and blood sugar imbalance
It is very important to understand that the body and mind constantly give us such signals so that we can anticipate this danger of blood sugar and mental health in time. If you suddenly feel extreme weakness without any physical fatigue, trembling hands, excessive sweating and increasing anger or irritability without any reason, then it can be a sign of low blood sugar (Hypoglycemia). On the contrary, if you are constantly feeling lethargy, headache, confusion and mental fatigue, then it points towards high blood sugar (Hyperglycemia). Ignoring these symptoms simply by considering them as bad mood can prove to be dangerous, because it clearly indicates the deterioration of your metabolism.
Surefire solution to maintain mental and physical balance
Breaking out of this complex cycle of diabetes and mental health requires a holistic improvement in lifestyle. First of all, monitor your glucose levels regularly to prevent sudden spikes. Reduce the amount of refined carbohydrates and sugar in your diet and give priority to fiber-rich foods, green vegetables and proteins, which keep blood sugar stable. Along with this, make physical activity like daily walk, yoga and pranayam a part of your daily routine, as these naturally increase ‘feel-good’ hormones which reduce stress. If mental stress or mood swings are affecting your daily life, do not hesitate to consult a psychiatrist or counselor, as a healthy mind is the foundation of a healthy body.