Feeling irritable and angry? This could be the surprising reason why
Whether you have a naturally short temper or not, we all go through the occasional bout of irritability from time to time. Usually, it can be blamed on a stressful day at work, hormones, or some other external issue.
But when it comes out of the blue and begins happening constantly with no real reason, it’s time to ask yourself – what’s REALLY going on?
Well, among the usual suspects like depression and anxiety, the cause could actually be something completely different – diabetes. Yes, you read that right.
Although the more common symptoms of type 2 diabetes are excessive thirst, increased urge to urinate, tiredness and constant hunger, one of the often-ignored signs is anger.
Mood swings are common in diabetics, as hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) can cause an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, including the so-called “happy hormone”, serotonin. As a result, this can lead to aggression, confusion and even panic attacks.
The anger was so powerful for one married couple, it almost drove them apart.
Writing for Scary Mommy, US author Kristen Mae described how she found out about her husband’s diabetes diagnosis just before she was about to issue him an ultimatum – admit you have an anger problem and get help, or the relationship is over.
Mae’s husband, who was just 39 and “physically fit” when he received the diagnosis, had been uncharacteristically angry over the past few months before a routine blood test confirmed the news.
“He began taking meds, eating better, and exercising more, and after a few weeks, something wild happened,” Mae writes.
“The man I married began to reappear. I hadn’t even noticed he’d been taken from me, because diabetes had stolen him so gradually.
“My husband, my true husband, is not short-tempered … Diabetes had changed him from a calm, rational person into someone who was tired, irritable, and angry.”
So, what should you do if you or your loved one are experiencing sudden, constant anger, irritability or some other mood change?
“If your spouse is acting in a way that causes you to question how you could ever have married them, send them to the doctor,” Mae urges. “They might just be sick, and you might just be about to get your loved one back.”