Is diabetes making you feel bad? (Diabetes & Mental Health)

If you have diabetes, you probably know that living with it all the time, taking your medication on time, controlling your diet, and checking your blood sugar levels can be exhausting at times. But have you ever considered that these things not only have a big impact on your body, but also on your mind? In fact, there is a bigger connection between diabetes and our mental health than you might think.

Simply put, people with Type 2 Diabetes are two to three times more likely to experience depression, or what we call anxiety or depression, than others. Sometimes, even the way your doctor talks about your blood sugar levels can make you feel sad and frustrated.

'This is my own fault' - why do we feel this way?

Serena Valentine, a diabetes educator and supporter, shares her experience. She has lived with diabetes for over 20 years. She says that many people who develop diabetes think, "This is my fault."

Really, who doesn't feel sad when they hear something like this? Many people blame themselves for these stories. But the most important thing we need to understand is that diabetes is much more complex than that.

We always hear about eating well, exercising, and taking our medications on time. But we don't talk much about our mental health. In fact, your mental health is more important than you think in managing your blood sugar levels.

What happens to diabetes if you lose your mind?

When people learn they have diabetes, they usually react in two ways.

• The first group: "Oh my God, it happened to me too. The terrible things that happened to our family will happen to me," they are extremely scared and anxious.
• The second group: "Oh... what's that? Everyone in our family has it. It's not a big deal," they accept it very casually.

Think about it, neither of these methods will help you manage your health properly, will they? If you ignore your diabetes, other serious complications may arise because your sugar levels are not controlled. On the other hand, if you are too worried and stressed, that stress itself is not good for your body. It can cause your sugar levels to rise even higher.

When mental health is poor, we may unknowingly resort to habits that make our diabetes worse.

So what do we do? How do we make up our minds?

Okay, now you understand how important it is to take care of your heart health with diabetes. So what do we do about it?

1. Don't keep everything bottled up - talk about it!

The most important thing is to talk about it. Don't hide your fears, worries, and sadness.

• Talk to your doctor: Your doctor should be your most trusted confidant. Don't be afraid to say, "Doctor, I'm not feeling well enough to think about this disease." He or she can guide you through the medical advice you need, as well as provide you with emotional support.
• Family and friends: Talking to someone close to you about this can be a great relief.
• Support Groups: If there are places where you can talk to other people with diabetes like you, that is also very valuable.

2. Don't blame yourself.

This is very important. Diabetes is a complex disease. It is influenced by many factors, including genetics, environment, and lifestyle. So don't think, "This is all my fault." Be kind to yourself. You are fighting this disease. Be proud of that.

3. Be happy with the little things.

You don't always have to chase big goals.

• Did you drink tea without sugar today? Be happy about that.
• Walked for 15 minutes? Great!
• Did you take your medicine on time? That's also a victory.

When you celebrate small victories like these, managing diabetes will feel less of a burden and it will become a normal part of your life.