Response from: David

Before being diagnosed as Type II diabetic I was aware of being short tempered and easily roused. My tolerance of other lessened and I was concerned at this emotion change in myself. I was until very placid and even tempered, although always emotionally led.
I did not have the typical symptoms of daibetes but when having my cholesterol check it was noted I had a high fasting blood sugar last year (6.7) this year it was 12 (7 is used for diagnostic purposes in the UK for fasting blood)
Since starting on Metformin and changing my diet I feel much more in control of my mood and temper.
I found the short article interesting as I came from the opposit direction. I had the mood and temper variation a year before the diagnosis.
I am aware of a collegue who has been type I diabetic for years and there is also "evidence" of mood changes with him when he is low blood sugared. The cry of "give jock a mars bar he is crabbit" often goes out. (trans from scots. Give Jock a high glucose chocolate bar he is ill tempered.)
Hope this is of interest. Perhaps it need researched more as some domestic agression etc could be due to blood sugar levels, esp. in overweight males of a certain age. The alochol effect in agressive older males may be more to do with blood sugar than simply the effect of alcohol and giving glucose may regulate their mood quicker than waiting for sobriety.

Response from: David

Before being diagnosed as Type II diabetic I was aware of being short tempered and easily roused. My tolerance of other lessened and I was concerned at this emotion change in myself. I was until then very placid and even tempered, although always emotionally led.
I did not have the typical symptoms of daibetes but when having my cholesterol check it was noted I had a high fasting blood sugar last year (6.7) this year it was 12 (7 is used for diagnostic purposes in the UK for fasting blood)
Since starting on Metformin and changing my diet I feel much more in control of my mood and temper.
I found the short article interesting as I came from the opposit direction. I had the mood and temper variation a year before the diagnosis.
I am aware of a collegue who has been type I diabetic for years and there is also "evidence" of mood changes with him when he is low blood sugared. The cry of "give jock a mars bar he is crabbit" often goes out. (trans from scots. Give Jock a high glucose chocolate bar he is ill tempered.)
Hope this is of interest. Perhaps it need researched more as some domestic agression etc could be due to blood sugar levels, esp. in overweight males of a certain age. The alcohol effect in agressive older males may be more to do with blood sugar than simply the effect of alcohol and giving glucose may regulate their mood quicker than waiting for sobriety.

Response from: David

Apologies if this is posted twice I ammended a comment after first posting. Before being diagnosed as Type II diabetic I was aware of being short tempered and easily roused. My tolerance of other lessened and I was concerned at this emotion change in myself. I was until then very placid and even tempered, although always emotionally led.
I did not have the typical symptoms of daibetes but when having my cholesterol check it was noted I had a high fasting blood sugar last year (6.7) this year it was 12 (7 is used for diagnostic purposes in the UK for fasting blood)
Since starting on Metformin and changing my diet I feel much more in control of my mood and temper.
I found the short article interesting as I came from the opposit direction. I had the mood and temper variation a year before the diagnosis.
I am aware of a collegue who has been type I diabetic for years and there is also "evidence" of mood changes with him when he is low blood sugared. The cry of "give jock a mars bar he is crabbit" often goes out. (trans from scots. Give Jock a high glucose chocolate bar he is ill tempered.) Hope this is of interest. Perhaps it needs researched more as some domestic agression, work place anger, sudden poor decison making etc could be due to blood sugar levels, esp. in overweight males of a certain age. The alcohol effect in agressive older males may be more to do with blood sugar than simply the effect of alcohol and giving glucose may regulate their mood quicker than waiting for sobriety if low blood sugar is found, medical intervention may help if hypergycemia is found.

Response from: sheri

My husband has type 2 diabetes. He is a good man, yet the fluctuations in his blood sugar levels coincide with agressive and moody behaviors that often border abuse. He doesn't appear to comprehend that his moods and behaviors are affected by his blood sugar, and this is a cause for disharmony in our marriage.

Response from: Stacey

My husband too as Type 2 diabetes. Sheri, thank you for your post as I have never known anyone else was dealing with what the borderline (and sometimes not so borderline) verbal abuse. His diabetes combined with his COPD and chronic back pain has almost done me in.

Response from: Stacey

My husband too has Type 2 diabetes. Sheri, thank you for your post as I have never known anyone else was dealing with the borderline (and sometimes not so borderline) verbal abuse. His diabetes combined with his COPD and chronic back pain has almost done me in.

Response from: Lane

I was diagnosed with diabetes about 2 years ago and went on insulin injections about a year ago. I have had mood swings for years, but never attributed it to diabetes - mainly since I wasn't diagnosed. I thought that my mood swings had eased since going on insulin --until today-- my wife told me that she's been thinking of leaving me for weeks, because of my unpredictable moods. I'm at a loss! I can't fathom life without my family! Any diabetic men reading this -- take a close look at your actions. Before it's too late!

Response from: Grace

My father has type 2 diabetes. Recently he has become increasingly moody and aggressive towards my mum (as with Stacey, bordering on abuse, certainly verbal), particularly in the evenings. We suspect it has something to do with his diabetes but when we went to the doctor they said his levels weren't too bad. He doesn't acknowledge that anything is wrong and it is breaking my mum's heart and very difficult to know how to respond. He is trying to shut down her lines of communication ... i.e. with friends and family and has become overly jealous and paranoid. What can we as a family do if they won't help themselves, or acknowledge there is a problem?

Response from: Dave

Been almost diagnosed with dabetes from a very abnormal glucose tolerance test. I have had food related mental disturbances for decades. It may have to do with the rate of change in blood sugar. Very low carbs control it for awhile. Ranges from paranoia to depression to anger and agitation. Its a constant stuggle and even after years i'm amazed at how quickly 'the switch' can be thrown that destabalizes my outlook. Whether the world is cheery or gloomy can be altered with a few bites of a bagel and a glass of soda.

Response from: Lesia

THANK YOU. After reading Sheri, Stacy, Lane et al...I'm not so crazy afterall. My husband has type 2 Diabetes with out of control sugars such as 250 to 400 plus day to day. He claims that is "normal " for him. He is under doc care but often eats whatever he wants and takes his meds when he wants. His mood swings are...yes, borderline verbally abusive
. Alcohol seems to make it worse. I don't know what to do. We've been married for 12 years. This is really hard on me. I'm 12 years younger and in very good shape. He doesn't even see it. Is this normal?

Response from: Mark (Check me out!)

I found out in Dec.07 that I am Type 1, and have been taking injections since.As Lane says though, I've always been a little moody, but never had any reason to think it had anything to with being diabetic. As of late though, it has begun to affect not only my home life, but work as well. Home life is a little easier, mainly because my wife is a nurse in the dialysis unit at the hospital.Work however, is a different story. Lately I have found myself lashing out at co-workers for very little or no reason at all. I find myself to be highly irritable, even over little things. Most of the reading I have done suggests diet and moreover exercise are key ways to deal with my mood swings. If anyone has any more ideas, I would love to hear back. I also find that open and honest communication with your spouse is very helpful.

Response from: sara (Check me out!)

I too have a husband with type 2 diabetes, and who has recently had terrible mood swings, from depression to abusive. What can be done about this, are there medications, diets that can help

Response from: Carol (Check me out!)

THANK YOU SO MUCH!. This has been an eye opener. My husband has type 2 Diabetes. He experiences outrages nearly aggressive mood swings, I love him very much, but I am to the point of going it alone. He spontanously verbally abuses me and our children. At times I am frighten, that he is going to take a swing at one of us. I think he feels he has every right “normal” to take out his spontaneous emotional outburst against us. This is causing disharmony in our marriage.

Response from: Ben (Check me out!)

I am an easy going kind person. I was diagnosed with type 2 a couple of years ago. At times I have fits of rage that are very unlike me, at times at night while sleeping causing murderous dreams, causing lack of sleep. When it happens during the day of course I dont kill anyone, and usually I dont even realize it until someone mentions that I am grumpy or something. I have well controlled blood sugars, but still have this phenomena. So I am researching it.