Unstable blood sugar levels not only affect how your body functions. Living with this condition also negatively impacts your mental health, including mood swings. Part of diabetes management is checking your blood glucose regularly. The overwhelming feeling of regularly managing your condition can severely affect your mood and psychological state.
How do you cope with this obstacle? First, a thorough understanding of your diabetes management plan is necessary. Once you adapt to your plan, you can easily accomplish your goal of maintaining your blood sugar levels. Having a clarity of your plan and goal will also clear your mind and mood swings.
You may also discuss your mental health with your healthcare professional. This factor is of utmost importance, especially if you are experiencing the most severe symptoms of mood swings and mental disorders. This will help in your diabetes treatment.
What are the symptoms of mood swings? The following signs best describe your emotional drain if your blood sugar levels are too high or low.
For low blood sugar levels:
- Confusion
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Hunger
- Shakiness
- Tiredness
For high blood sugar levels:
- Anger
- Tense
- Stress
- Sadness
- Thirst
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Nervousness
These symptoms are a result of mood swings and diabetes. While most of these apparently look like emotional symptoms, they can affect your bodily functions. What’s worse is that these signs can lead to poor body organ operations.
You might also consider the possibility of having anxiety attacks or depression while on your treatment duration with diabetes. Report your condition immediately if you notice some of these symptoms:
- Excessive fear
- Extreme tiredness
- Concentration problems
- Thoughts of suicide
- Difficulty sleeping
- Rapid weight loss or gain
Should you experience any of the mentioned signs, seek urgent medical treatment. Your mental health is as important as your physical health. Obtaining treatment for both is necessary.
What are smart tips that you can follow to easily observe your diabetes management plan without compromising your mental health? Consider these tips below:
- Exercise regularly – Note that being physically active and busy can help you focus on more important things than your vulnerabilities. Exercising daily means not spending so much time worrying about your affliction. Additionally, it helps in managing your diabetes, and losing weight!
- Create a meal plan – Part of diabetes management is having a concrete and healthy meal plan for you to follow regularly. Besides its positive effect on your blood glucose, it also nourishes your mind and prevents mental health disorders.
- Ask for help – Do not be shy in seeking help from your healthcare professional. In doing so, you will receive more insights into handling your condition. In terms of your mental state, your healthcare professional will assist you in attending programs that improve your mental capacity while on your diabetes treatment.
Diabetes and mood swings can be fearful and overwhelming. However, you can beat them as long as you move and work for it. Coping from these conditions can be a difficult undertaking; however, with the help of medications and support programs, you can live healthily and improve your quality of life.
