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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by spriggy on July 30, 2006, at 20:18:23
I guess this could be mental illness in general and how blood sugar relates but I have been wondering specifically about BP since that's my family history.
My grandmother was bp ( one of the most serious cases several of her psychiatrist had ever seen)- committed suicide due to the disorder.
She found out about 3 years before her death she was diabetic.
My dad found out he was a diabetic when he was 34, and was diagnosed with bp about 5 years later.
I have two friends' who have bipolar- one is diabetic, one is hypoglycemic.
Coincedentally, I am "borderline" diabetic. I just found out. I knew I ran "low" but apparently am running high now too.
When my blood sugar is low ( 70 or below) I get shakey, nervous, anxious, and sick to my stomach. It makes me want to jump out of my skin.
I had no idea that when I felt this weird funky depression and warm head feeling ( yeah... weird... I know), and felt sudden ANGER I was running high ( my highest monitored has only been 197).
SO... I am wondering now if bipolar in SOME people ( not all people) is simply a blood sugar issue?
Blood sugar effects mood. Everyone knows that.
If it goes up and down all day long ( like mine), wouldn't you appear to have mood swings and be unstable mentally?
The few times' my dad got serious about his diabetes and actually ate appropriately, his depression, anger, and mania disappeared too.
Huge differences in his mental state.
I just ate a bag full of sweetarts and within an hour, I was ready to smack somebody ( for no reason and no person in particular).
It just got me curious.
Any thoughts?
PS. I haven't recieved a diagnosis of bp (other than a gp suspecting it and sending me to psych that didn't agree with gp)- I've never been manic so I don't think I'd fit the bill but I often identify some symptoms.
Posted by Phillipa on July 30, 2006, at 20:53:14
In reply to Bipolar and blood sugar, posted by spriggy on July 30, 2006, at 20:18:23
Spriggy what you wrote makes sense in a logical way. But I would think just anxiety and depression? I don't know will be interested in what the others say. Boy you sure have a nack for coming up with wierd things. And I thought I was the only one. Love Phillipa
Posted by Jay on July 30, 2006, at 23:20:20
In reply to Bipolar and blood sugar, posted by spriggy on July 30, 2006, at 20:18:23
Hi Spriggy...
Well, I have been dx'd "soft" bipolar, mixed rapid cycling, and I was dx'd with type 2 diabetes about 8 months- to - a year ago. My doc agreed it was possibly the combo of my illness, and the new meds, like Zyprexa and Seroquel, and Risperdal, that possibly played a role in causing this. But, I guess for legal reasons, he won't "outright" say it, but pointed to the studies to me that show the co-relation. My doctor has now said that they are finding even more psych meds, this time the tricyclics, to mess up blood sugar.
Important thing here is treatment. Honestly, no I am no expert, but untreated diabetes can do major damage in ways we can't really see at the moment, but in the long run. I would ignore the "borderline" thing, and get advice from a endocrinologist. It's best to get this thing under control asap, as long as your sugar goes higher, the silent damage over time it can cause. Not trying to freak you out....just as one who has been there, this is nothing to fool around with, I am sure you know. With treatment and proper lifestyle changes, it can likely never be a bother in your life again.
Best wishes,
Jay
Posted by iforgotmypassword on July 31, 2006, at 0:36:36
In reply to Bipolar and blood sugar, posted by spriggy on July 30, 2006, at 20:18:23
http://www.psycheducation.org/hormones/Insulin/metabolic.htm
http://www.psycheducation.org/hormones/Insulin/metabolicmood.htm
http://www.psycheducation.org/hormones/Insulin/metformin.htmhttp://www.psycheducation.org/hormones/Insulin/story.htm
http://www.psycheducation.org/hormones/Insulin/stories.htmvery interesting connections. it connects to a lot of things though... particularly eating (and night eating!). metabolic syndrome. HOW DIABETIC MEDICATION CURED SWINGS.
all very interesting, making me want to try metformin. phenformin seemed more anecdotally useful, but maybe not in practice...
Posted by SLS on August 1, 2006, at 6:12:02
In reply to Re: Bipolar and blood sugar, posted by iforgotmypassword on July 31, 2006, at 0:36:36
Hmm. Good observation.
I was diagnosed as having hypoglycemia at age 15 when I began complaining of depression.
Eating refined carbohydrates really makes things more difficult for me. I become more lethargic, have more difficulty concentrating, become more anergic, and overall suffer more malaise. It is a sugar spike thing, I guess. I really have to watch my glycemic load.
- Scott
Posted by iforgotmypassword on August 1, 2006, at 16:44:35
In reply to Re: Bipolar and blood sugar, posted by SLS on August 1, 2006, at 6:12:02
>Eating refined carbohydrates really makes things more difficult for me. I become more lethargic, have more difficulty concentrating, become more anergic, and overall suffer more malaise.
Yep. Totally in my case as well! I am taking fibre supplements to reduce glycemic load and calorie intake, but it only goes so far. Just today, on my way back home from my psychologist I picked up a falafel sandwich, and after I finally got home I was suddenly tired again, even though I had finally got myself out successfully and was finally getting along with things. The sandwiches are generally small, but I just read the other day that pita bread actually has a lot more carbs in it than it tends to look like! And with the falafel alone, with the chickpea flour from mediterranean (as opposed to desi) chickpeas, that probably also contributed! It was hot outside, but this type of worsening of fatigue and fog is really something I can feel. I know this because carbs are what I always crave, it's has always been such a vicious cycle: "Eat a whole thing of bakery garlic bread. Pass out. Cravings again in hours upon waking. Thoughout the week unchecked, gets worse and worse and worse." With the fibre supplements (PGX, mostly glucomannan) it is actually getting better though!
I would really like to give metformin a shot, I am not diabetic, but I am just so carb reactive! (and my weight is getting harder and harder to control.)
This is the end of the thread.
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