I don't like my husband when he has low blood sugars!

Hi Tracy,

Well first of all, welcome to the group!! I am sorry you are feeling bad towards your husband because of how he's been behaving, but if it makes you feel any better, apparently it's not uncommon. As far as I have seen it's more prevalent in Type 1 diabetics than it is in Type 2's, but I did find several message threads where people were talking about their experiences with moodiness and mood swings. You can read one of those postings here.  In the posting, many of the members are talking about the same thing you are experiencing with your husband.

Here is a posting from Gus, a man who admits if he does not get his mood swings in control he's going to lose his family. I certainly hope that is not the case, but it will give you some insight and a feeling that you are not alone.

I am not sure what to tell you about how to treat your husband, or what to do when he acts this way. Is it possible to go with him to the doctor and tell the doctor what is happening? It is apparently a common symptom. Perhaps the doctor could speak to him about this and let him know he's darned lucky to have someone who cares!

I am a type 2 diabetic, but I don't recall having any mood swings associated with low blood sugar because I can feel it coming on and I eat. Willingly! lol. When I go low, I get shaky and I talk too fast, then my kids and my s.o. will let me know to eat something if I have not done something or said something. I don't remember being mean (but then I have children who would argue that point, haha)

Kim Benjet is a caregiver. Her son has diabetes. She writes about the experiences of a friend who is now 50 who remembers the mood swings his mother experienced when they were kids. You can read that article here.  

I hope you found some of this information helpful. Please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing.  

Be well!

Vicki M

Tracy: I'm sure you know that many Type 1's lose the ability to detect low blood sugars (it's called hypoglycemia unawareness), and that the more episodes you have the less you feel or recognise the usual symptoms. In many people, low blood sugars bring on irritability, crankiness, and extreme stubborness. My friends and family have learned to do this when they see I'm low and won't take care of it myself:

-They are firm, but kind, when they urge me to have a little juice (I react badly and get even more stubborn when I think they are being mean to me);

-They remind me that even if I'm NOT low, taking some juice and going high for a short time is much safer than continuing to go low;

-They remind me that I can't always feel the symptoms, but that they can see them;

-They remind me that untreated hypoglycemia can result in a seizure, and even death;

-They threaten to call the ambulance. That almost always works!

Getting good control back is something only your husband can do for himself. It can't be forced on him. I bet a reminder that he has children who love him and need him healthy would be good motivation.

Best of luck to you.

Beth

"Bad behavior" such as irritibility, crankiness, and stubborness during a low blood sugar episode is embarrassing, especially when that's not your usual behavior. For someone with long-term Type 1 diabetes, making a renewed commitment to good control, which may bring back some of the awareness of low blood sugars, is really really hard. No-one can make you do it, and once you start trying harder you understand how much work it takes. I guarantee it's worth it though.

The hardest part for me was getting more comfortable with other people (on my health care "team") seeing all my numbers, and seeing the records of what I ate. I was very private about those things, and still am, but now I understand that the people who help me take care of myself need to see details of how my food, carbs, and insulin are actually working.

I bet your husband will feel better about the whole management thing once he feels like HE is in charge. How much he shares will depend on him.

Best of luck.

Beth

Hello Tracy,

Know what you are talking about and it can be difficult. I am a type 1 but by nature i am a laid back person. Not so much with low sugars but i notice it with high blood sugars. obviously lots going on in the body when this happens. Diabetes is a very difficult thing to tightly control if

you are not testing often. our weakness is our will sometimes to keep control, say a cke here and a sweet there. If thats not off set with say exercise or Insulin up go the blood sugars. before u know it you are hyper. (in my case) It is also difficult for you as well. All i can say is that sometimes i have to have a quiet time to myself to reflect on what is going on and re-assess and try to take tighter control.

I hope this has been of benifit to you.

SteveMarston.blogspot.com  

Last week, my husband was better.  He has taken some of my advice regarding the unawareness of being low--letting his blood sugars run a little high (around 150).  He did very well until Saturday evening.  He was cooking dinner, and he told me that he did not understand the recipe and asked if I could read it.  When I read the recipe to him, he still could not understand.  I asked him to check his blood sugar.  He did and told me it was 138--I did not doublecheck his reading--I did not want to have an argument.  When he again tried reading the recipe, he could not read it--words were fuzzy--he decided to re-check his blood sugar.  Fortunately, his glucometer will show his last reading when it's turned on.  He had misread -- he was 38.  He snacked and was fine.  However, during his "lowness," he had given my daughter some medicine for her ear infection, so I had to quiz him to make sure he gave her the right dose. 

It's scary at times.  When he knows he has to be checking and be cautious, he is--which is throughout the week, and if I am not around. 

He seems not as cautious when we are at home on the weekends--unless he really has to be. 

His other problem is he has sleep apnea, so he is also cranky. 

Tracy,

I'm going through the same thing. My husband was diagnosed when he was 9 - now 46.  We've been married for 20 years.  Yes, it's the highs and lows. When he's high he'll go and pick fights with our 3-year-old dalmatian and then get furious when she growls at him.  Even says that if she actually bites him -- which he goes out of his way to provoke -- he'll "kick her teeth in."  And then when I JUMP in to ensure that nothing of the sort is going to take place, it's "Shut the hell up.  You're always yelling at me.  You're provoking my attitude.  Listen to you."

Then he'll run the other way and provoke fights when he's got low blood sugar because "We couldn't live the way we are now if it weren't for HIS job.  He hates his job, but since I'm making less than he does and actually my job (I'm a certified court reporter, which isn't easy, but I do love it), I'm so much less than he is because he brings in more $$ than I do.  Of course, I trying to bite my tongue (used to even actually go to the extent of taking Paxil 'cause I wanted not to get into this), but, yup, that button was pushed too often, and I refused to put up with keeping quiet.

There's no reason for him not accepting his responsiblity for his behavior.  What's up with that?  It's not like we haven't been labeled wtih the PSM long enough and even admit to it (see the Paxil above) but enough is enough.  When and where do we go to get help for this? This is really getting old. 

You know, if there were some kind of responsiblity taken and actual apologies given for his outlandous behavior, that would help a bit, but, no, I'm always the one he sees as proviking it.  Yeah, and he's the one with the diabetes!  Go fish.  I guess I'll have to take it up with our pastors at church.

Thanx for your broad shoulders for listening.

Anne

Do you ever think your significant other is faking it for attention???  I've had a couple friends use their diseases for attention and a couple times my gut tells me he is.  I've seen him super low before so I know he gets moody & completely disoriented, it's scary. 

But there are a couple times when I feel like I'm being played.  And I know no two low spells are the same... but tonight I called 911 because he (we're a long distance relationship) sounded low.  I honestly didn't believe him... so I figured I'd call 911, they'll either get there & there will be something seriously wrong (God forbid!) or I'll call his bluff.  Everytime I say I'm going to call 911, he sounds fine "No, why would you do that!?"  And when I call them, they arrive... he calls me sounding completely fine & asks why I called them. 

So I'm ridiculously angry because he had to of been faking it... and he calls me a zillion times, sounds fine... it's a long dramatic story.  But how do you believe them!!??  I mean, there have been legitimate situations I've been in where I've seen him super low.  But because we're long distance I don't see him everyday...and I can't ask you all to tell me whether or not I should trust him.  But more info on the disease would be helpful.  Any other time that's been serious I've been there to watch him eat or drink something... this time... ugh.  I just don't know.

Any advice?

Sincerely,

Dumbfounded