This may sound weird but I think my husband's diabetes is affecting his personality. He has good control of his blood sugar. He was diagnosed 2 years ago but the doctor thinks he had it for 5-10 years before that. The last few years before his diagnosis, I noticed a change in his personality. Then he was diagnosed and seemed to actually be gettting better. The last several months I have seen the same paranoia, irrational anger, etc.... returning. Just wondering if this could be attributed to the diabetes. He is suspicious and has strange quirks. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
I plan to talk to his doctor at our next visit but thought I would try here today. He can be triggered by the most irrational things. It is really strange I have tried discussing it with him when he is more normal, but I don't think he fully understands how much of a problem he has.
It sure does not sound like one of the symptoms of an out of control type 2. I say out of control just because if he was better and now he is not then if it is diabetes related it would probably mean something in his treatment has changed. But, there is such a professional as a psychoendocrinoligist (that just couldn't be spelled right with those many letters) However, that person may not have anything to do with diabetics. Hopefully someone will jump in here and know for sure. I think the things you have to look at are what changes in his treatment have you seen that would return him to that way of thinking. Have his blood glucose levels changed? Or his A1c gone up one down? Also you have to look at any other changes in any other condition he might also have. Medications do not mix well sometimes.
Sorry I don't have something solid either way to tell you.
type 2 - dx 12/04
metformin 500mg 3x - avandia 2mg 2x
Sorry I don't have something solid either way to tell you.
type 2 - dx 12/04
metformin 500mg 3x - avandia 2mg 2x
He is a type 1. Forgot to mention that. I know it is not the medication because he was like this for a while before he got diagnosed. It affects everyone around him.
That makes it even more strange. Being diagnosed type 1 can sure effect your thinking, but this was before he was diagnosed.
type 2 - dx 12/04
metformin 500mg 3x - avandia 2mg 2x
type 2 - dx 12/04
metformin 500mg 3x - avandia 2mg 2x
I'm a bit confused here... I can't see how he could be Type 1 for 5 or 10 years (undiagnosed) and still be alive... That means he was functioning without insulin for all that time...
Anyway, this doesn't sound diabetes related to me. Sounds more like he needs to have a complete physical and lab work to rule out anything else and then maybe speak with a therapist or perhaps be on some medication. I was an irrational, paranoid witch before I was started on Zoloft for depression... It not only helped my depression, it helped me be human. (My own kids didn't know me after I started on SSRI medication... Kept asking, "Who are you and what have you done with my mom?")
Odd and different behavior that deviates from a person's normal personality can be due to small strokes or transient ischemic attacks (brief blockages to blood vessels in the brain), brain tumors and a host of other things. I'd definitely get the doc in on this. Keep stressing that this is not his old self. Good luck with this.
~ Jeannie
"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."
- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
Anyway, this doesn't sound diabetes related to me. Sounds more like he needs to have a complete physical and lab work to rule out anything else and then maybe speak with a therapist or perhaps be on some medication. I was an irrational, paranoid witch before I was started on Zoloft for depression... It not only helped my depression, it helped me be human. (My own kids didn't know me after I started on SSRI medication... Kept asking, "Who are you and what have you done with my mom?")
Odd and different behavior that deviates from a person's normal personality can be due to small strokes or transient ischemic attacks (brief blockages to blood vessels in the brain), brain tumors and a host of other things. I'd definitely get the doc in on this. Keep stressing that this is not his old self. Good luck with this.
~ Jeannie
"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."
- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
Reading your post, I can't help but feel for you. I feel for you like I feel for my husband who has to put up with some pretty irrational and unexplainable behaviour from me; particularly over these past few years. I've yet to get my sugars to a controlled state or maintenance level and, with various changes to insulin regimens and such, it's been an adventure ride to say the least.
When you say your husband's sugars are controlled.... What is that being judged on? Are his fasting, pre-meal, and bedtime readings all in range? Does he experience low blood sugars? Is this confirmed with a test strip? Much of my fluctuating behaviour is directly related to what my sugars are doing. If I'm sliding downhill towards a hypo...I immediately get increasingly irritated, aggitated, clumsy, and hostile even. Just today I started making lunch OK (meaning, I tested and was happy with my 5.2 reading) and ended the preparation 10 minutes later with banging cupboards, swearing, and wanting to cry until I started eating and the food kicked in. My husband stayed outta my way and we ate in silence for the first 5 minutes but then I slowly started to feel normal again. My husband broke the silence with a,"Feeling better?", to which I replied, "Yes. I'm sorry." I hate myself for what I put him through sometimes but we're trying to understand this together. I feel guilty and ashamed about my behaviour at times but I'm thankful that most folks around me are aware and supportive. I can't explain why one minute I'll cry at a commercial and next be so mad at something trivial. I can't explain why I test after a meal, get a great number or a even high number and then go hypo 20 minutes later. I can only tell those around me what's going on so they know I'm not outta my mind
about the long time to diagnose him Type1....I'm a Type1, diagnosed January05. Prior to that I was diagnosed a Type2 June04. I've known I was hypogycemic for years prior to the Type2 diagnosis and subsequent medications. I guess if you want to put a label to us folks that have shown signs of Diabetes for years and ended up with a Type1 diagnosis, it would be...LADA (Latent/Slow Adult Onset Diabetes). Sometimes they call us Type 1.5. We're born with the ability to produce and use insulin but, somewhere along the way, our bodies turn on themselves and start destroying the insulin-producing cells in our pancreas till they're all gone. Diabetes being an auto-immune disorder, they figure having been really sick with a virus could be the catalyst for the system turning on itself. It is a process once it starts and they haven't nailed down how long it takes.
The change in behavior recently is still explainable if you consider my explanation of Type 1.5 above, and understand that for the past couple of years his insulin regimen was adequate along with the insulin-producing cells still around. As I said, the cell destruction is a process and maybe his recent change in behavior has signaled their end and therefore, an updated insulin regimen is required? At any rate...a visit to the doctor is in order, IMHO.
Cheers,
- Phishbowl (Type 1 since Jan'05 - Levemir, NovoRapid)
"We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are." -- Talmud
When you say your husband's sugars are controlled.... What is that being judged on? Are his fasting, pre-meal, and bedtime readings all in range? Does he experience low blood sugars? Is this confirmed with a test strip? Much of my fluctuating behaviour is directly related to what my sugars are doing. If I'm sliding downhill towards a hypo...I immediately get increasingly irritated, aggitated, clumsy, and hostile even. Just today I started making lunch OK (meaning, I tested and was happy with my 5.2 reading) and ended the preparation 10 minutes later with banging cupboards, swearing, and wanting to cry until I started eating and the food kicked in. My husband stayed outta my way and we ate in silence for the first 5 minutes but then I slowly started to feel normal again. My husband broke the silence with a,"Feeling better?", to which I replied, "Yes. I'm sorry." I hate myself for what I put him through sometimes but we're trying to understand this together. I feel guilty and ashamed about my behaviour at times but I'm thankful that most folks around me are aware and supportive. I can't explain why one minute I'll cry at a commercial and next be so mad at something trivial. I can't explain why I test after a meal, get a great number or a even high number and then go hypo 20 minutes later. I can only tell those around me what's going on so they know I'm not outta my mind
about the long time to diagnose him Type1....I'm a Type1, diagnosed January05. Prior to that I was diagnosed a Type2 June04. I've known I was hypogycemic for years prior to the Type2 diagnosis and subsequent medications. I guess if you want to put a label to us folks that have shown signs of Diabetes for years and ended up with a Type1 diagnosis, it would be...LADA (Latent/Slow Adult Onset Diabetes). Sometimes they call us Type 1.5. We're born with the ability to produce and use insulin but, somewhere along the way, our bodies turn on themselves and start destroying the insulin-producing cells in our pancreas till they're all gone. Diabetes being an auto-immune disorder, they figure having been really sick with a virus could be the catalyst for the system turning on itself. It is a process once it starts and they haven't nailed down how long it takes.
The change in behavior recently is still explainable if you consider my explanation of Type 1.5 above, and understand that for the past couple of years his insulin regimen was adequate along with the insulin-producing cells still around. As I said, the cell destruction is a process and maybe his recent change in behavior has signaled their end and therefore, an updated insulin regimen is required? At any rate...a visit to the doctor is in order, IMHO.
Cheers,
- Phishbowl (Type 1 since Jan'05 - Levemir, NovoRapid)
"We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are." -- Talmud
Thanks so much for your reply. How nice (and I don't mean that in a bad way) to know he is not the only one going through this. We do have a doctor's appt set up and I am looking forward to sharing this with the doc (the stuff you said). Hope you have a great day. Thanks again...it really helped to know we aren't the only ones going through this.
You are so welcome, hearty In all honesty, I find it most helpful and cathardic for me to learn that there are others sharing similar experiences and to also let them know they're not alone. Diabetes can be such a lonely disease, especially without support and understanding on all sides.
Glad to hear you have an appointment set up, too. A couple of tests you may want to ask your doctor for (hopefully and Endocrinologist), are thyroid (T4, T3, TSH), HBA1C (of course), cholesterol, and - if you're interested, I understand there are antibody tests like C-Peptide and GAD65 that may help determine at what state of insulin-cell production your hubby's pancreas is in. I'll be asking my Endo next month about the Gad65 test, as I'm curious 'bout that one myself.
Hope your appointment goes well. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Good luck!
Cheers,
- Phishbowl (Type 1 since Jan'05 - Levemir, NovoRapid)
"We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are." -- Talmud
In all honesty, I find it most helpful and cathardic for me to learn that there are others sharing similar experiences and to also let them know they're not alone. Diabetes can be such a lonely disease, especially without support and understanding on all sides.Glad to hear you have an appointment set up, too. A couple of tests you may want to ask your doctor for (hopefully and Endocrinologist), are thyroid (T4, T3, TSH), HBA1C (of course), cholesterol, and - if you're interested, I understand there are antibody tests like C-Peptide and GAD65 that may help determine at what state of insulin-cell production your hubby's pancreas is in. I'll be asking my Endo next month about the Gad65 test, as I'm curious 'bout that one myself.
Hope your appointment goes well. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Good luck!
Cheers,
- Phishbowl (Type 1 since Jan'05 - Levemir, NovoRapid)
"We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are." -- Talmud
I hearby nominate new member Phishbowl for the "Brilliant Newbie" award! Thank you for being such a helpful person on the forum even though you just joined... You're Great!
~ Jeannie
"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."
- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
~ Jeannie
"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."
- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross