According to research, both hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) and rapid spikes and drops in sugar are associated with mood disorders such as neurosis, anxiety disorders, and depression. This could apply to any of us. According to one study, as many as 205 out of 220 patients with neurosis have hypoglycemia. Prof. Sue Penckofer’s research, on the other hand, found that higher fluctuations in blood sugar levels in diabetic women were associated with a negative mood. According to statistics, up to 25% of diabetics are depressed. Scientists believe that blood sugar fluctuations, which are common in diabetics, are to blame. Other research has linked low blood sugar levels to nervousness. What are our options?
Neurosis and blood sugar levels What is the source of the dependency?
Low blood sugar levels can aggravate neurosis. Anxiety, nervousness, irritability, depression, and difficulty concentrating are all closely related to glucose levels. Why? It’s simple. The brain uses glucose to function more than any other organ in the body (even the muscles need less).
Sugar is required for the nervous system to function properly. When it is missing, mental health issues arise. Although it should be noted that the causes of disorders may not always be related to sugar. However, this is an important aspect that is frequently overlooked.
Causes of sugar level changes
Blood glucose levels fluctuating is a natural mechanism. The sugar level gradually rises and then falls after a meal. The body begins to crave replenishment. The issue is that glucose levels fluctuate abnormally.
.The causes of glucose disorders are primarily:
- incorrect diet,
- stress,
- sedentary lifestyle,
- certain diseases, e.g. diabetes .
Consuming too much sugar, primarily refined sugars, sweets, and sweet drinks, is a common mistake that leads to low sugar levels. Its excess causes the pancreas to overproduce insulin (a hormone that regulates glucose), causing the blood to be depleted of sugar. Glucose levels drop rapidly, causing brain function to deteriorate.
Fasting, restrictive diets, and long periods between meals are also unfavorable in this regard, as the body does not receive the appropriate amount of energy when it is required.
According to research, stress is a major factor that influences blood glucose regulation. It causes the body to produce various hormones (including cortisol), causing metabolic changes and sugar fluctuations.
How to improve glycemia?
An important step to improving your well-being and reducing the symptoms of neurosis (or other mood disorders) is regulating the level of sugar. To do this:
- Limit refined carbohydrates in your diet: white bread, sweets, table sugar.
- Choose complex carbohydrates: multigrain products, thick groats.
- Choose products with a low glycemic index .
- Eat more vegetables and fruits that are rich in fiber .
- Avoid drinking sugary drinks.Replace them with still water.
- Avoid stress.Take care of better coping with stressful situations .
- Avoid starvation, restrictive diets that do not provide the body with the right amount of energy.
- Get basic checkups at least once a year – including a blood glucose test .
- Do sports . Specialists recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity 5 times a week.