Can Diabetes Cause Mental Health Problems?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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People with type 1 are at a heightened risk for mental health issues, including diabetes distress, depression, anxiety, and disordered eating

. However, these are all treatable disorders. It is important to pay attention to your feelings about having diabetes or taking care of someone who has diabetes.

Is diabetes distress a mental illness?

One way that depression and diabetes distress are different is that

diabetes distress is not thought of as a mental illness

. Diabetes distress is a construct proposed by researchers to describe the emotional response to living with diabetes, a life-threatening illness that requires chronic, demanding, self-management.

Can being diabetic make you crazy?

What's sometimes called “diabetic rage” can be dangerous, because it may involve behaviors you're not consciously aware of.

When your blood sugar fluctuates, spikes, or drops, it can produce feelings of anger, anxiety, or depression

. You may feel like your emotions are out of your control.

Can diabetes cause psychosis?


Diabetes can indeed cause psychosis

, but this secondary form of psychosis comes and goes. Controlling blood sugar so it stays within a healthy range can prevent psychotic episodes and improve quality of life.

Can diabetes cause schizophrenia?


Malfunctions in how the body processes sugar that occur in diabetes and obesity could also explain mood and other mental disorders such as schizophrenia

, researchers now reveal.

Can diabetes cause mood swings and anger?


Potential symptoms of diabetes distress may include: anger and frustration about the demanding nature of the condition

. worry about being able to manage it. a low level of motivation to manage the condition.

Can diabetes cause memory issues?


Uncontrolled diabetes may increase the risk of experiencing cognitive problems, such as memory loss

. Higher than normal blood glucose levels can damage nerve cells, supportive glial cells, and blood vessels in both peripheral nerves of the body and the brain.

Can long term diabetes affect the brain?


Patients with diabetes have been found to have several changes in brain structure that appear to develop over time

(top) and often experience conditions that present risk for subsequent cognitive dysfunction (bottom).

Can Type 1 diabetes cause bipolar?

Then,

when blood sugar is uncontrolled because diabetes is poorly managed, clear thinking is impaired and mood swings can ensue, exacerbating bipolar symptoms

.

What are the early warning signs of psychosis?

  • Worrisome drop in grades or job performance.
  • New trouble thinking clearly or concentrating.
  • Suspiciousness, paranoid ideas or uneasiness with others.
  • Withdrawing socially, spending a lot more time alone than usual.

Can high blood sugar cause mental confusion?

Over time, high glucose levels can have serious repercussions, such as heart disease and stroke. But lower them too much and

you could face immediate and severe side effects including confusion and cognitive impairment

and, possibly, an increased risk of long-term cognitive decline [1][2].

Does diabetes cause brain atrophy?

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) is associated with accelerated cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia,

1

and with structural brain abnormalities, such as atrophy, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and lacunar infarcts.

Do diabetics get angry easily?

Among diabetic,

higher blood glucose, or hyperglycemia, has historically been associated with anger or sadness

, while blood sugar dips, or hypoglycemia, has been associated with nervousness. Persons with diabetes are not the only ones vulnerable to mood disturbances as a result of blood sugar fluctuations.

Can diabetes cause depression anxiety?


If you have diabetes — either type 1 or type 2 — you have an increased risk of developing depression

. And if you're depressed, you may have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes. The good news is that diabetes and depression can be treated together.

Why are diabetics so angry?

Two primary factors are responsible for diabetic rage and aggression:

psychological and physiological

. The psychological components of diabetic rage come from the stress of living with this disease. Feelings of frustration and resentment, a sense of “why me,” are common.

What is fuzzy brain?

What is brain fog? While it's not a medical term, brain fog describes

a feeling that you don't have full mental clarity

—maybe you're having trouble remembering something or difficulty focusing on a thought or idea.

Is diabetic memory loss reversible?

The great news is that

diabetes and prediabetes are preventable and even reversible in many cases

and can help protect your memory.

Does diabetes affect thinking?

High blood sugar can damage your blood vessels, resulting in poor blood circulation. And

when there's insufficient blood circulation in the brain, you might not think as clearly

. Also, too much blood sugar can increase serotonin and neurotransmitters in the brain.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.