Diabetes (type 1 and type 2) was not only able to cause serious physical health problems. Disturbances in blood sugar levels also founded can influence emotions, which in turn disrupt the control of diabetes itself.
Recent research in United States indicated that the soaring sugar levels in extreme can lead to significant changes in mood. In fact, the findings also suggest that changes in blood sugar levels frequently (called the glycemic variability) can also affect the condition and quality of life of diabetic patients.
Diabetes, especially type 2, has long been associated with depression. But so far, has not been clear how they affect each other. Does depression lead to diabetes or diabetes cause people to experience depression. Recent studies in patients with type 1 diabetes found that increased blood sugar levels at a particular time period may trigger the production of hormones associated with the development of depression.
"Diabetes makes you always worry and it's exhausting. It can make you feel helpless," said Joe Solowiejczyk, a diabetes educator and diabetes counseling and training manager at Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute, San Jose, California.
"I think it's important to realize that from time to time, patients with diabetes will experience a crisis. You'll have days where you feel very upset, frustrated, sad, denial and physically exhausted," he added.
Solowiejczyk, who are also people with type 1 diabetes, say diabetes not only increases the risk of serious complications, but uncontrolled diabetes can worsen depression, thus creating a vicious cycle.
Beside can increase risk of depression, diabetes can also affect mood (mood) of even a matter of minutes. For example, someone who is experiencing low blood sugar can suddenly become irritable, even aggressive, and can act like drunken people.
Blood sugar levels are too low (called hypoglycemia istlah) occurs when someone uses too much insulin or not getting enough food intake. Exercise, reducing alcohol intake and other causes can lower blood sugar levels unexpectedly.
The problem, Solowiejczyk continued, "The brain operates entirely on glucose. If you do not have enough glucose, cognitive function is not working properly. This is a physiological response rather than an emotional response," he said.
Dr Vivian Fonseca of American Diabetes Association, said the reaction of hyperglycemia (blood sugar levels too high) can affect patients level of anxiety and mood.
"Hyperglycemia can affect your ability to concentrate and can make you feel upset," said Solowiejczyk."Any change in blood sugar outside the normal range can makes you feel strange and uncomfortable," he said.
A small study in April issue of the journal Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics found that fluctuations in blood sugar levels in women with type 2 diabetes associated with lower quality of life and negative mood.
Fonseca said the findings should be replicated on larger population. Although diabetes and blood sugar levels can affect the emotions, but emotions can also affect blood sugar levels and patients control to diabetes.
In different study in the same journal issue, researchers tested the blood sugar level of people without diabetes, and found that stress causes their blood sugar increased significantly. Most importantly, if a person continually have trouble dealing with their emotions related to diabetes, immediately consult it to the doctor.
"You will feel very badly, sometimes hate or anger. Diabetes is hard and all the emotional feelings that come along with this disease. If you are easily emotional, angry or sad all the time, it will be difficult for you to take care of yourself," he concluded.
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