Low blood sugar isn’t just a number—it’s an experience. When glucose falls, your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline, and your brain gets less of the fuel it needs to think clearly. This can lead to panic, anger, denial, embarrassment, or a strong urge to eat immediately. If you’ve ever treated a low and then wondered, “Why did I act like that?”—you’re not alone.

This page focuses on managing emotions during lows: practical strategies to stay safe, remain calm, and minimize conflicts with family, friends, and coworkers. It also addresses fear of hypoglycemia and ways to prevent that fear from causing your glucose levels to rise unnecessarily.

Why do lows trigger strong emotions?

Two interconnected processes can influence emotional changes during hypoglycemia:

1) Stress hormones (the “alarm system”)

As glucose levels drop, your body releases hormones that increase glucose and signal danger. This may cause shakiness, sweating, a rapid heartbeat, and a sense of urgency. Emotionally, it often feels like anxiety or panic.

2) “Brain low” effects (reduced brain fuel)

The brain depends largely on glucose. When glucose levels drop, thinking and self-awareness might suffer. That’s why people may:

Feel irritable or suddenly emotional
Argue or resist help (“I’m fine!’).
Act on impulse, especially when it comes to food.
Lack good judgment about safety (such as driving, stairs, tools, work tasks)

What are the most common emotional patterns during lows?

Panic and “urgent hunger”

Panic can cause overtreating (eating much more carbs than necessary), leading to rebound highs and another correction—creating a cycle that fuels fear. The goal is quick treatment without binging.

Anger and irritability

A person may become short-tempered or combative during lows. Loved ones might take it personally, but it’s often a temporary brain and hormone response. (If this occurs frequently, it’s a strong reason to tighten prevention and review settings.)

Denial and resistance

Some people insist they feel fine even when their behavior is clearly abnormal. This is especially common with hypoglycemia unawareness.

Embarrassment and shame

Lows can occur at work, school, or in public. Feeling “different” can cause people to hide symptoms, delay treatment, or skip activities. That avoidance can lower quality of life—and sometimes increase risk.

Fear of hypoglycemia

Fear can be protective as it encourages preparedness, but when fear becomes intense, it can cause people to raise their blood glucose levels higher than they intend, avoid exercise, over-snack “just in case,” or underdose insulin.

What is the best rule for avoiding arguments during lows?

Treat first, discuss later.

During a low, it’s not the time for blame, lectures, or “I told you so.” Focus on one calm goal: raise glucose. Discussions about what happened can wait until the person is clearly back to normal.

A straightforward “no-debate” script for families

Agree on this beforehand (when glucose is normal):

Helper says: “I think you’re low. Let’s treat and recheck in 15 minutes.”
A person with diabetes says,“Okay—hand me the glucose tabs.”
Then:set a timer and double-check.

If the person refuses treatment and appears impaired, treat it as a safety concern rather than a negotiation. If they cannot swallow safely or lose consciousness, follow emergency procedures (glucagon/911).

How can you prevent panic eating during a low?

Panic eating is common because lows trigger sudden hunger and impaired judgment. These steps help reduce rebound highs and lessen fear over time.

1) Use “boring” fast carbs

Glucose tablets or gel (or other measured fast carbs) work quickly and are less tempting to overeat. Keep them everywhere you might need them: bedside, pocket or purse, desk, car, and exercise bag.

2) Automate your low treatment process.

Follow a consistent plan (for example, the 15-15 rule). Measured treatment outperforms guesswork.

3) Use a timer (really).

Most overtreatment occurs because people re-treat too early. Set a timer for 15 minutes (or long enough to see a clear upward trend on CGM) before deciding to eat more.

4) If you’re on AID, remember you might need fewer carbs.

Many AID systems decrease insulin delivery as glucose drops. If you repeatedly bounce high after treating lows, it often means your carbs for treatment are more than needed—especially if you treat early.

How should coworkers, teachers, and friends react?

People around you want to help—but they need a simple plan. Consider sharing a short “low plan” with the people who matter most.

Workplace or school low plan.

If I say I’m low, I’ll treat it immediately with fast carbs.
If I seem confused or unusually irritable, please ask me to check or treat. If you wear a CGM, you can explain alarms in one sentence: “That sound means I need sugar now.”
If I can’t swallow safely or pass out, call 911 and use glucagon if you are trained.

How can you manage fear of hypoglycemia without consistently running high?

Fear of hypoglycemia is common—and understandable. The goal isn’t “no fear.” The goal is useful fear: enough to stay prepared, not so much that it interferes with your glucose management.

Try this “fear → plan” conversion

Fear thought:“What if I go low while driving?”
Plan:Check before driving, keep fast carbs accessible, avoid driving if feeling faint, recheck on long trips.

If fear becomes overwhelming or restricts life.

If fear causes you to keep glucose high, avoid exercise, sleep, or leaving home, consider consulting your diabetes clinician for a tailored plan, including CGM settings, insulin adjustments, and, if necessary, behavioral support like cognitive behavioral therapy.

What should you do after experiencing a low (when your brain is back online)?

A quick, nonjudgmental review can reduce the risk of repeat lows and ease fear. Keep it simple:

What likely caused it? (missed snack, too much insulin, surprise activity, alcohol, delayed meal)
What worked? (how many grams, how long to recover)
What should I do next time? (earlier treatment, different snack, adjusted plan for activity)

When is it time to seek extra help?

Contact your clinician promptly if you experience:

any severe low point (needed help from another person)
lows you don’t feel (possible hypoglycemia unawareness)
frequent lows (for example, more than 1–2 per week)
fear, anxiety, or conflict that is affecting your quality of life or causing you to feel overwhelmed

If feelings of lows become overwhelming, consider requesting a referral to a mental health professional experienced in diabetes. This isn’t “overreacting”—it’s a vital part of comprehensive diabetes care.

Calmness is a skill you can develop.

Lows can affect emotions because stress hormones increase, and the brain has less fuel. That’s why panic eating, denial, and conflict are so common. The most effective approach is practical and easy to repeat: treat early with measured carbs, use a timer, and agree on a “treat first, talk later” rule with those around you. With prevention, planning, and support, confidence grows—and fear diminishes.