Why do they get like that?

[hallenbeckfamily]

I can't find the words to explain this,maybe I don't know why. BUT~~ Why do our kids get irritable,grumpy, unable to reason with and moody when hi or low? What causes this? It happens with Chris ,and 10-15 min after I fix the hi or low all these symptoms are gone and he back to normal. WHY? What does too much blood sugar or not enough blood sugar do tho cause this? Maybe I am having a stupid moment. Is there a scientific reason? Thx Jennifer

[LantusFiend]

The adrenaline rush from the low isn't gone after the low is. I'm not sure about the high.

[kel4han]

As an adult with "D" I explain it to people this way. When I am "high" my face is hot, I feel like my blood is boiling becuase it feels thick and my body wants to drop to the ground with fatigue. I can feel every muscle trying to work, its like you feel the sugar trapped within the muscles making everything heavy.You cant think straight, like that mom with the new baby. You know how you feel when you have a MAJOR lack of sleep, or caffeine overload, too many pain killers? Well, thats how our body runs around feeling when we are high. Your brain is in slow down mode big time, and your body is a whole 'nother story. The flu descibes it pretty well.

Low, is a body sense of panic.....you know how you feel when that idiot almost crashes into you on the highway? Thats what a serious low does to your heart rate. Now, remember, these are children dealing with these feelings many times a day. There is no constant flow of feel good. (unless you have a great a1c) Ever drank to much? Thats how slow your brain is working when you are low. It feels quite similar. So, next time you want to say your child has "no excuse" for thier behavior (not saying you, just anyone) think of the roller coaster ride they are on and how well you can manage your emotions when put to the test, they deal with that many times a day. But you know what they say, "it makes you stronger"

[Adinsmom]

My opinion only, Our children do not "feel right" something is off. I have felt that way before and I do not have D.

Adin is much younger then Chris and testing boundaries as any toddler should. When things are out of whack he just doesn't feel good. :( Plain and simple and I completely understand. I always take into account his bg's before disciplining but there are limits. If it is completely unacceptable I take action no matter bg.

[Carrie]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but it is my understanding that the brain is the only organ that needs sugar to run. If the BG is off, then the brain doesn't function properly and I would think that's why we see different "behaviors" in our children. I don't have diabetes, but I've had some sugar lows before when my body is screaming at me that I need to eat. You get to feeling pretty funky! Sometimes it takes quite a while for things to get back to normal. For little ones, it's gotta be strange trying to figure out why they feel the way they do. Same goes with hormones. If they are up-down-all around, they can do a number on our behaviors and attitudes! :rolleyes:

[MaggieM]

As an adult with "D" I explain it to people this way. When I am "high" my face is hot, I feel like my blood is boiling becuase it feels thick and my body wants to drop to the ground with fatigue. I can feel every muscle trying to work, its like you feel the sugar trapped within the muscles making everything heavy.You cant think straight, like that mom with the new baby. You know how you feel when you have a MAJOR lack of sleep, or caffeine overload, too many pain killers? Well, thats how our body runs around feeling when we are high. Your brain is in slow down mode big time, and your body is a whole 'nother story. The flu descibes it pretty well.

Low, is a body sense of panic.....you know how you feel when that idiot almost crashes into you on the highway? Thats what a serious low does to your heart rate. Now, remember, these are children dealing with these feelings many times a day. There is no constant flow of feel good. (unless you have a great a1c) Ever drank to much? Thats how slow your brain is working when you are low. It feels quite similar. So, next time you want to say your child has "no excuse" for thier behavior (not saying you, just anyone) think of the roller coaster ride they are on and how well you can manage your emotions when put to the test, they deal with that many times a day. But you know what they say, "it makes you stronger"

Thank you for posting how you feel with high & low bs. Seems no matter how much I want to understand, I will never fully comprehend what he is going through. I try to have patience with him. It is so heartbreaking. I am going to use your description to give to parents and teachers (even grandparents :mad: ) that just don't seem to get it and feel it's all an act to get out of trouble.

[FrustratedMom]

I've been "dealing" with my son's diabetes for more than 15 years. He has turned 20, and I need to admit that I've lost this battle. It was never easy, but since his junior high school years, I've been under stress all the time. He had terrible mood swings and kept creating problems for himself which I always helped him to solve. I don't even know how I survived. I developed high blood pressure and now have a terrible pain in my stomach - I need to go and see a gastroenterologist - I am sure I have an ulcer if it's not smth. worse. I've been helping him with everything, do not remember what the word "vacation" means. I always tried to be an optimist, but now feel that I came to the deadend. He is a college student who lives at home. All of a sudden, two days ago, he stopped going to college. He says he has a pimple and can't go out when he looks like that. He stays in bed. His behavior is absolutely irrational. He missed one exam. I've asked him why he is doing it just before the end of the semester; he says he hasn't dropped out, but is waiting until he will look better. He is going to lose medical insurance from my work, and that will be the end..................I have no idea what to do with him.

[FrustratedMom]

I've been "dealing" with my son's diabetes for more than 15 years. He has turned 20, and I need to admit that I've lost this battle. It was never easy, but since his junior high school years, I've been under stress all the time. He had terrible mood swings and kept creating problems for himself which I always helped him to solve. I don't even know how I survived. I developed high blood pressure and now have a terrible pain in my stomach - I need to go and see a gastroenterologist - I am sure I have an ulcer if it's not smth. worse. I've been helping him with everything, do not remember what the word "vacation" means. I always tried to be an optimist, but now feel that I came to the deadend. He is a college student who lives at home. All of a sudden, two days ago, he stopped going to college. He says he has a pimple and can't go out when he looks like that. He stays in bed. His behavior is absolutely irrational. He missed one exam. I've asked him why he is doing it just before the end of the semester; he says he hasn't dropped out, but is waiting until he will look better. He is going to lose medical insurance from my work, and that will be the end..................I have no idea what to do with him. I stopped eating and feel very depressed.

[kel4han]

I cant believe I didnt mention the mood swings! Um, yeah, I must be "HI" as this is the worst part! Actually when I was diagnosed I was 28 (type1) and part of what made me stop and realize I had a problem was the meltdowns I had. I felt like a 2year old. I remember screaming, shrieking, at my kids in the morning before school. That is so not me! Sure, I would have days, but this was like I was a possessed person. I would nearly shake with anger over the stupidist thing. I would cry all the way to work, not sure how I got it together to sit there all day. I remember my eyeballs just rolling around inside my head, I literally could not stay awake. Then I would cry all the way home, fearful that I would "lose it" with my family. I was so NOT IN CONTROL. The blood sugar was in control. It was effecting who I was, how I reacted. My fasting at diagnosis was 250, so you can imagine what I spiked to with eating, which I did almost constantly.

But I must say, the occasional high does not have nearly the effect as days, weeks, months, of running high. So, dont think your children are little monsters when they seem to be so mean, if the circumstances are right,(highs, lows) that isnt really who they are. My daughter is an entire new person now that she was diagnosed. She sings and skips around the house all day. Talk about pure music to your ears:p

[Adinsmom]

I cant believe I didnt mention the mood swings! Um, yeah, I must be "HI" as this is the worst part! Actually when I was diagnosed I was 28 (type1) and part of what made me stop and realize I had a problem was the meltdowns I had. I felt like a 2year old. I remember screaming, shrieking, at my kids in the morning before school. That is so not me! Sure, I would have days, but this was like I was a possessed person. I would nearly shake with anger over the stupidist thing. I would cry all the way to work, not sure how I got it together to sit there all day. I remember my eyeballs just rolling around inside my head, I literally could not stay awake. Then I would cry all the way home, fearful that I would "lose it" with my family. I was so NOT IN CONTROL. The blood sugar was in control. It was effecting who I was, how I reacted. My fasting at diagnosis was 250, so you can imagine what I spiked to with eating, which I did almost constantly.

But I must say, the occasional high does not have nearly the effect as days, weeks, months, of running high. So, dont think your children are little monsters when they seem to be so mean, if the circumstances are right,(highs, lows) that isnt really who they are. My daughter is an entire new person now that she was diagnosed. She sings and skips around the house all day. Talk about pure music to your ears:p

Thanks for your insight on how it feels. I find it invaluable.

[FrustratedMom]

You wrote about feeling like a possessed person. This is exactly how my son acts. He can also shake with anger over the stupidist thing and behave as if he is a little kid. It scares me. He can be nice and sweet, then, all of a sudden he turns into a "monster" and starts saying nasty things to me. Sometimes, he doesn't remember what I ask him to do. Last week, I left for work before him and reminded him to lock the door and close the window. Do you think he did it? He left the door and the window open.
I also noticed that, if you are trying to wake him up, you better do not expect him to understand what you want from him. He is not in this world. You may talk to him, but later he will tell you that he didn't remember anything.

[MelStan]

Thanks Kel4han!
It's so good to hear from an adult who lives with the rollercoaster of D life. I do get very frustrated at times reading the 'no excuses' comments. I don't think any of us have the right to be too hard on these kids, if we don't know how it feels ourselves and live it EVERY single day of our lives.

We need a cure!:rolleyes:

Mel - mum of Eilish, 9 3/4, dx'd at 3