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.
poster:spriggy
thread:672115
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060724/msgs/672115.html