Last Updated on April 24, 2024
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental condition that affects about 8.4 percent of kids and 2.5 percent of adults, according to data from the American Psychiatric Association (APA). However, the National Institute of Mental Health estimates the numbers to be higher, with many girls and adults remaining undiagnosed.
Untreated ADHD can influence many aspects of a person’s life, including their education, work, and relationships. It’s important to recognize the various symptoms of adult ADHD to get proper treatment and live a more fulfilling life.
Symptoms Of ADHD in Adults
Common symptoms of ADHD in adults may include:
- Lack of focus: This is the most telltale sign of ADHD and goes beyond just finding it hard to pay attention. Other signs include being easily distracted, getting it hard to listen to others in a conversation, failure to complete tasks, and overlooking details.
- Hyperfocus: On the flip side, a person with ADHD may get so engrossed in something that they shut off their mind from anything else around them.
- Disorganization: Adults with ADHD may find it difficult to manage their organizational skills, such as keeping track of tasks and prioritizing them logically.
- Time management concerns: People with ADHD often find it hard to manage their time effectively.
Depending on the specific type of ADHD, other signs of this condition in adults include forgetfulness, impulsivity, emotional concerns, negative self-image, lack of motivation, restlessness, and anxiety.
ADHD And Diabetes
According to national health survey data published in the Journal of Diabetes, adults diagnosed with ADHD have a 50% increased likelihood of developing diabetes compared with those without ADHD. Numerous other studies have found a positive association between ADHD and diabetes. The association particularly persisted after adjustment for socioeconomic and demographic variables, BMI, and lifestyles.
Information on sex, age, education, ethnicity, family income, and lifestyle were gathered via a questionnaire during the interview. Out of a total of 52,821 adult participants (48.6% men with a mean age of 45.5 years), 1,642 confirmed they had been diagnosed with ADHD, and 4,631 said they had diabetes. After adjusting for sex, age, and ethnicity, it was apparent that participants with a history of ADHD were more likely to get diabetes than those without ADHD.
Even after factoring in education, smoking status, family income, BMI, physical activity, and alcohol drinking, adults with a history of ADHD still had more likelihood of getting diabetes. However, the association between ADHD and diabetes was not influenced by age, ethnicity, sex, or obesity status.
How ADHD Heightens Risks of Type 2 Diabetes
The link between ADHD and Type 2 diabetes is not solidly established in research, but the neurological understandings of ADHD point to a close correlation. Typically, the ADHD brain craves dopamine stimulation, which is provided through simple carbs and high-sugar foods.
Eating disorders are four times more prevalent among people with ADHD and can be a precursor to Type 2 diabetes. A lot of patients with ADHD usually exhibit prediabetic conditions such as weight issues or binge eating disorders. Besides, ADHD patients have a heightened risk of obesity because of the tendency to eat more. Sometimes, they even eat foods they don’t like due to impulsivity.
ADHD patients may genuinely intend to eat healthily, but their poor executive function can sabotage those efforts. They have a difficult time planning ahead. For instance, they may forget to defrost lean meat for dinner and end up eating junk food, or they may not stick with routine exercise. A sedentary lifestyle is a common risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.
Another close connection between ADHD and Type 2 diabetes is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). This is a health problem caused by an imbalance in hormones that can result in infertility or missed or irregular menstrual periods. Adult women with ADHD are more likely to develop PCOS, which is similarly associated with increased diabetes risk.
Treating Diabetes for the ADHD Brain
Effective treatment for Type 2 diabetes can be particularly challenging for ADHD patients since they require constant vigilance. You need to do numerous things to treat diabetes effectively, including frequently checking your blood sugar before and after meals and being aware of what you eat. You must do these daily and bring along a blood glucose meter, medication, and insulin whenever you travel.
On the positive side, some adults with ADHD can actually unlock a healthier lifestyle after a diabetes diagnosis. For example, some medications used for ADHD treatment can help reduce your desire for carbohydrates, which is a common trigger for diabetes. With accurate ADHD diagnosis and treatment, you can reduce your symptoms, get back to a regular exercise routine, make better food choices, and lose excess weight that often heightens risks of diabetes!
Recognizing the Signs of Diabetes
It’s difficult to recognize the signs of diabetes for individuals with ADHD. For most people, the symptoms are not subtle. Some individuals notice an increase in thirst, fatigue, blurred vision, or bruises and cuts that take a long time to heal. Since some studies show a correlation between cognitive impairment and diabetes, later-life ADHD diagnoses can be confounding.
Due to these reasons, it’s important to develop the following healthy lifestyles if you’re at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes:
- Make healthy food choices. Stick to foods that are low in calories and fat and high in fiber. Limit highly-processed food like snacks, white bread, and sweets of all kinds.
- Read food labels keenly. To avoid consuming extra sugar, keep off foods with ingredients such as high-fructose corn sweetener, dextrin, dehydrated cane juice, dextrose, sucrose, maltodextrin, molasses, and malt syrup.
- Exercise more. Regular workout is great for your heart and your mind. According to the Centers for Disease Control, you should take at least 150 minutes of walk each week, which translates to 30 minutes each day, five times every week. Consult with your Doctor about what exercises are safe.
- Lose weight. Cutting down weight, especially if you are already overweight or obese, can make a huge difference in terms of enhanced blood sugar, reduced blood pressure, and lowered cholesterol. Watching your diet is extremely important when living with diabetes.
Wrapping Up
Overall, multiple scientific studies have established a positive association between ADHD and Type 2 diabetes in kids, adolescents, as well as adults. Adults with ADHD have been found to be twice more likely to get Type 2 diabetes than their non-ADHD counterparts. If you exhibit any symptoms of ADHD, it’s essential to have your doctor diagnose you for diabetes and recommend mitigation measures or treatment.
Author Bio
Sara Anderson of The Ezcare Clinic, a medical clinic that provides world-class healthcare services. Sara has been associated with the healthcare industry for over five years and specializes in medical content.
