Having diabetes is no excuse to blow your top and be angry at your loved-ones all the time, but this disease indeed could lead to factors that can alter mood and even cause ADHD symptoms.
Now on one hand, it seems there’s no connection between being easily aroused to anger, ADHD or being very moody, and having diabetes.
But on the other hand…
Now suppose an adult or child in your life has anger issues, or frequently has mood disturbances or signs of ADHD.
Diabetes As a Cause
This person can very well have diabetes, and the diabetes can very well be causing or significantly contributing to anger outbursts, moodiness and/or ADHD symptoms.
I asked whether or not diabetes can be connected to anger and mood to Dr. Georgianna Donadio, DC, a nutritionist, health educator and Program Director of the National Institute of Whole Health in the Boston area.
Diabetes Can Cause Angry Mood Problems and ADHD
“The answer is a resounding yes,” she replies. In the brain is a neurotransmitter called dopamine, and excess amounts of dopamine are associated with mood and behavioral changes.
Dr. Donadio explains, “Vanderbilt University Medical Center identified that insulin levels affect the brain’s dopamine system, which is involved in many neuropsychiatric conditions, including drug addiction, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and so forth.”
Two Types of Diabetes
They are type I and type II. Type I is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes. The patient’s pancreas does not produce any insulin. Ten percent of diabetics have type I.
In type II, the patient’s pancreas produces insulin, but the body does not know what to do with it.
Though about 80 percent of type II diabetics are overweight, and this type of diabetes is strongly correlated with being overweight, lack of exercise and poor eating habits, a thin person can still develop type II if other lifestyle risk factors are present.
Genetics also play a role, but not in terms of destiny, but rather, in terms of predisposition.
If a person has anger problems or ADHD symptoms before developing diabetes, then if the diabetes isn’t managed properly, the condition can have a definite impact on that person’s temper and mood.
Dr. Donadio continues, “In addition, theirs (Vanderbilt University Medical Center) and other studies have provoked questions regarding how controlling insulin levels (such as in diabetes) can have an impact on and for ADD, ADHD, and this suggests that the effects of kids/adults having high carbohydrate/sugar diets may be a critical factor in the development of ADD, ADHD and other neurological/brain conditions.”
She adds: “The brain needs glucose to function properly and without proper insulin regulation, sugar levels can become erratic and seriously impact cognitive and neurological functioning.
“People with hypoglycemia often have severe glucose swings and personality issues as a result.”
Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar.
If you, or and adult or child in your life seems to have anger management issues, throws temper tantrums, has temper outbursts, rouses easily to a hostile mood, or shows ADHD signs, consider the possibility that diabetes is at least partially the cause.
For 35+ years Dr. Donadio has educated the healthcare community, her patients, students and the public about how the physical, emotional, nutritional and environmental aspects of our lives can produce illness or wellness.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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