Blood sugar and mood: Any connection?

Q: My 15-year-old son has diabetes. When his blood sugar is low, he seems depressed. When his blood sugar is high, he's often agitated and short-tempered. Is there any connection between blood sugar level and mood?

Jeff / California

Fluctuations in blood sugar levels can be associated with changes in mood. However, this typically occurs only with extremely high or low blood sugar levels.

It's important to remember that many factors can contribute to mood changes in people who have diabetes. It can take time to adjust emotionally to a diabetes diagnosis, as well as the need to manage the disease. This adjustment can be especially challenging during adolescence.

Encourage your son to check and record his blood sugar level consistently — and specifically when you notice a mood change. If your son's mood swings occur often or become a persistent problem, consult his doctor. The information in your son's blood sugar log may help the doctor make adjustments to your son's diabetes treatment plan, if needed. If factors other than blood sugar level seem to be at play, the doctor may recommend consulting a mental health professional.