Some people may claim that they overeat because they are hungry. Perhaps they actively seek out sugary foods when they run out of sweets, to the point of getting angry. Is it really hunger, or is it something else?
Let’s look at the relationship between sugar and mood, and how the ups and downs may affect people, including those who have diabetes.
The Relationship
Experts have long indicated that there is a relationship between eating sugar and obesity. Some researchers indicate that sugar may have effects on the body and brain that are similar to drug abuse. One study showed that sugar is more addictive than cocaine. When you consume excess sugar, you enjoy the reward of the pleasant taste. When a person takes certain drugs, they want more because of the reward effect.
Take away the ability to consume sugar in unlimited amounts and the reward becomes a detriment. You seek more and more, and may show signs of mental health effects.
Mental Health and Sugar
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that people who have diabetes have a much greater risk of experiencing depression than people who do not have diabetes. Some symptoms of depression include overeating, feeling irritable, anxious or guilty. Many people who consume excess sugar are likely to experience these same symptoms.
The University of Michigan Department of Public Health reveals that many people who have mood disorders such as depression or anxiety may not realize that variable blood sugar is the cause. The article points to the fact that lifestyle changes may help to stabilize blood sugar highs and lows.
Maintain a Healthy Brain
The human brain needs glucose for fuel. If there is not enough glucose in the brain, there is no production of neurotransmitters.
Harvard Medical School explains that neurotransmitters serve as chemical messengers of the brain. Having too much glucose in the brain potentially results in cell aging, along with cognitive deficiencies. Type 1 diabetes sometimes affects the brain in early childhood.
People who have diabetes are at a much greater risk of having a stroke than people who do not have diabetes. There is also a greater risk of people who have diabetes developing dementia. You cannot change some risk factors for stroke, but you can change other stroke risk factors, as well as other factors that can help you to maintain a healthy brain.
Keep your blood sugar under control to increase your chance of maintaining a healthy brain. Fluctuations in blood sugar may occur at times, but regular fluctuations are a likely sign that something is not right. Make sure that you check your blood glucose and take your insulin when you are supposed to do so.
Avoid temptations to indulge in eating unhealthy fats and sweets other than on special occasions or in small amounts as an occasional treat.
Keep a record of your blood sugar readings and keep all of your medical appointments. You may not realize that you have changes in the brain, or that you have other complications of diabetes. Your health team members can help you to keep a healthy brain.
Follow a healthy lifestyle, which includes getting sufficient amounts of exercise and sleep.
