Complications of Panic Attacks on Diabetics
Research has discovered a connection between diabetes and the presence of panic attacks. Because of the similarities of the symptoms in both disorders, people who have diabetes should be aware of certain complications that could arise, namely the onset of panic attacks.
What's the Connection?
Let's start with the symptoms of a panic attack. These are sudden, brief episodes of fear and anxiety. However, there are both psychological and physical symptoms associated with these attacks. Besides being consumed with a debilitating sense of impending doom, the body responds on a physical level as well. A rapid heartbeat, sweating and shortness of breath are the very real and frightening symptoms that accompany an attack.
Diabetics will immediately notice that the symptoms of a panic attack are exactly like those that are experienced in a condition called hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar. Here's where the problem comes in. If a diabetic has a panic attack, the first course of action may be to adjust their blood sugar level, but this may prove harmful. Panic attacks and diabetes may have similar symptoms but they are not the same condition and therefore need a different course of treatment.
What Should be Done?
The first step for a diabetic to take is to closely monitor their blood sugar levels daily. Diabetes can be effectively managed through diet and proper medication. If a diabetic begins to experience panic attacks, the doctor should be promptly informed. New research reveals a strong connection between diabetes and panic attacks, which seems to result from diabetic complications.
In other words, this may not simply be a matter of adjusting blood sugar levels, but would require a complete physical evaluation. In addition to the physical aspect, a person with diabetes and the presence of panic attacks should be checked for any psychological conditions, like anxiety or mood disorders. Depression has been shown to be more common in diabetics, and this may contribute to the onset of panic attacks.
In some cases, providing treatment for the depression may eliminate the panic situations. However, other cases showed a need for better glucose control because of an underlying complication of the diabetes. Proper and prompt medical diagnosis and treatment is vital in this situation.
Another finding from the medical study pointed out that diabetics who view their quality of life as significantly decreased because of their medical condition are more likely to have panic symptoms. Doctors need to address this aspect of healthcare management as well.
