Diabetes and Mood Swings

[Scarlet_SC]

My daughter has had diabetes for 25 years (type 1) and is having a battle with anxiety, depression and terrible mood swings.  Is this normal?

[Lorri41]

My daughter has terrible mood swings & was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago.  It hasn't improved.  We have adjusted her insulin, but what people do not understand is the fact that, at times, it isn't what she has eaten...it's simply a high blood glucose number due to stress or hormones.  She will sometimes experience a high because she is overly excited perhaps to attend a party, dance or talk to a boy!  This disease is aweful.  We do the right things, but to no avail.  I wish I could help her.

[Zoelula]

My heart goes out to you. This condition is hard enough to handle for an adult, I can't imagine what it is like for a child and for the adults who are responsible for his well-being 24/7. I'm glad your child is in therapy and I assume that the therapist will ask you to attend some of the sessions so he can help you to communicate with each other. I also encourage you to contact the JDRF branch in your area and get a referral to a group for parents as I think it will really help your stress to talk to others who truly understand what it is like.

[Kis27]

Hi my son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 3,he is 10 now. I noticied a change in his mood especially with high blood sugars,which seem to be getting worse. He is attending a psychiatrist and child psychologist,in the hope that we can get our relationship back on track. My lovely sweet boy is gone at times replaced by a monster i dont know. Last week he purposely missed his injection to avoid school(he has a problem with his teacher) Ended up with ketones of 6.9!! I prey that we get through this,but it's broke my heart,i try not to fight or argue back but that's easier said then done!! I just wish i understood his illness more,and could help him more. i love him so much,but can't handle this behaviour. He bit,kicked and punched me on Friday......how hard it must be for him!!

[Zoelula]

Hi Bibi

Your daughter has several things that are influencing her emotions and behavior right now: She is dealing with the emotional response to getting a diagnosis that is life changing and scary; she is possibly having the influence of both high and low blood sugars that create unstable emotions and she is in puberty which is stressful in and of itself as she is trying to define who she is and now has a chronic condition to add into the mix. So she has a lot going on, and she may not even be aware of what she is feeling or able to express it in words.

None of the above, however, excuses bad behavior and I encourage you to continue to parent and set limits as you did before her diagnosis; she possibly needs the reassurance of structure even more now than before!

What she may also need is some support for what she is going through: Perhaps a counselor, one aware of the impact of a chronic condition on a teen. What also might help is to meet other young people with type 1 diabetes so she has role models to relate to. There are diabetic camps which are a great experience for someone her age. Contact your local branch of the JDRF to find out the location of camp or of a support group for type 1's or type 1 teens. I will also send you by PM the name of a website where she can talk with other young people with diabetes and you can talk with other parents. It's a hard adjustment but together you can do it!

[bibi3840]

Hi all, thank you for sharing so much.  It has helped me tremendously.  My 13 year old daughter was diagnosed 1 and a half months ago and her mood swings, irritability, aggression, anger, and back talking have been the worst symptoms so far.  She has such a good and loving heart so when she behaves in such extreme ways I don't know how to react.  I try to keep calm but I have to let her know that she's behaving inappropriately.  Where do I draw the line between a reaction to a high or low and blatant disrespect? I love her so much and I don't know what to do to help her with this part of her newly diagnosed condition.  Please help

Bibi Miami

[Alex_X_18]

this can happen I've been diabetic since I was a kid almost 10 years now actually,....
when my sugars are low I experience anxiety and get disorented easily

and when my sugars are high
it makes me hyper or tired from haveing to over exet myself which normally makes me aggitated very easily

my advice is to tell your daughter to check her sugars 6 times a day
which avrages out to about once every 2 hours basicly it makes it much easir to treat your sugars before they spin out of control also she can provide her sugars to her doctor
who can make adjustments to her medicine