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ADHD & Type 2 Diabetes: A Surprising, Stark Health Link

Healthy eating suffers when ADHD impulsivity, poor executive function, and dopamine-seeking behaviors drive poor food choices, making Type 2 diabetes a real risk. Here's how to stay healthy and reduce your chances of developing this life-threatening condition.

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  1. KawiMumOf2, other symptoms of ADHD can be high sensitivity and trouble with emotional regulation, do you experience that, too? Do you “burn out” faster than others and wonder how they do it? You may also want to change to a slow-carb diet as with DT2 you also have insuline resistance. I hope you are reading that, I come from the same angle and hope I can help. 🙂

  2. I was heavily bullied because of my ADHD and developed various eating disorders interchangeably that put me at risk for DT2. Kids at my school and adults liked to make me cry and then ridicule or shame me for it. I overate with immense amounts of carbs because as a girl I was not allowed to show anger or tears, so I stuffed it down as best as I could. Food became a friendship replacement. The following weight issues lead to starving myself and other EDs desperately trying to fit in with femininity, which is hard enough as I am tall, too. I swore to myself to beat the next person up who called me a “gentle giant” many times. Needless to say I also became a people-pleaser because I saw it as my only chance to show some “femininity” instead of being regarded as a loud “fat” oger. I grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, concepts of femininity were still very narrow-minded then. And I was just diagnosed with ADD at 40+, but now it explains everything, I am so relieved to know that now.

  3. If this is true it would explain so much. I kind of suspect that I have ADHD. I asked my Dr about being tested but she seems to think that my lack of memory, constant forgetfulness, easily distracted, etc is due to stress. My son has ADHD and I believe my one daughter has it as well (she was diagnosed and then undiagnosed). I have type 2 diabetes and PCOS. I tend to lose weight during the warmer months when I move around much more & basically”forget” to eat. Winter is a sore reminder that I need to eat & I over eat. A viscous cycle I’m constantly battling.

  4. There is another more obvious surprising, stark health link too. But it took me my entire life to recognize it.

  5. Karen, that is interesting. I tend to have somewhat low iron, and I am hungry all the time! I need to look into that more. Thanks!

  6. I have only my own personal experience about sugar cravings, but since iron deficiency is a common occurrence in those with ADHD (see article in additude magazine about common nutrition deficiencies in those with ADHD) it may be part of the diabetes picture.

    I’ve noticed that when my ferritin levels are low, I crave sugar and simple starches a lot. I also find that I over eat when my iron is low because I feel so hungry even if my stomach is full of food.

    I can’t help but wonder if others with ADHD struggle with similar problems craving sugars and eating too much food. That would certainly stress the pancreas. The low iron also makes me so tired and week feeling that it’s hard to get up the “will” to exercise.

    I know that iron was to blame because once I fixed the iron problem (and my ferritin levels were back to a normal place) the sugar craving, the overeating, the weakness, and the fatigue all went away.

    Just throwing this out there in case someone else is having the same trouble. Get your ferritin levels checked and talk to your doctor about iron supplements!

  7. To complete my comment above:
    people with ADHD will experience higher level of cortisol release due to reaction to stress and as a result this puts them/ us at higher risk for diabetes type 2. That’s science.
    The article below discusses the link between ADHD and higher cortisol release:
    https://www.additudemag.com/stressors-adhd-brain/#comment-120408

    Higher cortisol results in higher insulin resistance, for example, forcing the pancreas to produce more insulin to get a response. With ongoing insulin resistance, the insulin-producing beta cells wear out, causing type 2 diabetes.
    This may be compounded by impulse control and feel good dopamine stimulating food, but the cortisol link is a much more direct link.
    http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2016/mar-apr/stress-type-2.html

  8. Hi,
    This is interesting, but leaves out a general fact and a more scientific perspective.
    First: the US population demonstrates a major problem with obesity and eating “feel good food” with the standard American diet, though the whole population is not diagnosed with ADHD.
    Second and more important point grossly overlooked here (and in other similar discussion about ADHD): people with ADHD will experience higher level of cortisol release due to reaction to stress and as a result this puts them/ us at higher risk for diabetes type 2. That’s science.

    The article below discusses the link between ADHD and higher cortisol release:
    https://www.additudemag.com/stressors-adhd-brain/#comment-120408

    Best regards!

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