Do you have diabetes ? Sometimes you may think that living with this disease is difficult and stressful. Did you know that this stress can gradually increase and lead to feelings of sadness, anxiety, or depression ? In fact, there is a bigger connection between these two conditions than you might think. About one in ten people with diabetes (maybe even more) may also experience depression. This can be a bit serious. Because mental problems can make it difficult to control diabetes , and diabetes can make mental problems worse. But don't worry, understanding this and managing it properly can be a challenge, but it is not impossible.
How does diabetes affect your mental health?
Your life has probably changed a lot since the day your doctor told you that you have Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes . That means you have to think about your health more than ever.
Imagine, the doctor tells you, "Don't eat this, don't eat that, sugar is bad, don't drink alcohol." Not only that, but you have to check your blood glucose level every day and take insulin on time. When you suddenly change the lifestyle you've been used to for so long, it's normal to feel a lot of stress, anger, and sadness.
What are the symptoms of depression?
Depression is not just about feeling sad. It's more complex than that. See if you have these symptoms.
| Characteristics category | Do you feel these things too? |
|---|---|
| Emotional characteristics | Feelings of persistent sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, constant anger, or unnecessary guilt. |
| Behavioral changes | Sudden loss or increase in appetite, insomnia or daytime sleepiness, feeling socially withdrawn. |
| Physical characteristics | Digestive system problems such as unexplained body aches, constant fatigue (lethargy), and stomach aches. |
| Effects on thinking ability | Difficulty concentrating on daily tasks, difficulty making decisions, and thoughts of suicide. |
Important: If you have one or more of the symptoms listed here for more than two weeks, it's definitely worth talking to your doctor about it.
What is 'Diabetes Distress'?
This is a little different from regular depression. 'Diabetes Distress' is a type of stress that occurs because of having diabetes. You may feel like:
- "No matter how hard I try to control my sugar, it just doesn't work."
- "I don't know if I'll develop any new illnesses because of this illness."
- "I am not in control of myself, this diabetes is."
When you have these thoughts, you may feel discouraged about managing your diabetes. You may even avoid checking your blood sugar, taking your medication, or even going to the doctor. This condition is similar to depression, but it is caused by diabetes. Therefore, it is important to treat this mental condition as well as your diabetes .
Sometimes, your blood sugar levels can suddenly go too high or too low, which can indicate symptoms of depression or anxiety. So, checking your blood sugar levels regularly and talking to your doctor about it can help you understand what's really going on.
How to prevent the stress that comes with diabetes?
Often, the hardest thing is to recognize that you have depression. Because when you are depressed, it is difficult to make decisions, and you don't even feel like going to see a doctor. Therefore, it is very important to make a good plan from the day you find out that you have diabetes.
- See a specialist regularly: In addition to your regular doctor, it's a good idea to see an endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in hormone-related diseases like diabetes. He or she can help you develop a treatment plan that's best for you.
- Seek mental health counseling:Ask your doctor and see a mental health specialist who helps people with long-term conditions. This is nothing to be ashamed of.
- Join a support group: Talking to others who have diabetes like you and sharing experiences can be a great source of strength. You'll realize that you're not alone.
- Set small goals: Instead of trying to do a big thing all at once, set one or two small goals at a time. For example, start with something small like, "I will walk for 15 minutes every day this week."
If you also have these symptoms, what can you do?
If you have diabetes and feel like you have the symptoms of depression mentioned earlier, here are some things you can do.
1. Therapy
If you haven't yet sought therapy, it can be a great help. It can help you talk about your feelings, find solutions, and live a balanced life with diabetes. Some of the most common therapies used for this purpose are:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ( CBT )
- Dialectical-Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Family Therapy
2. Medication
There are medications that can treat both depression and diabetes. Some antidepressants, such as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), have been found to help control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Very important: Only your doctor should decide what medications you should take and for how long. Never take medications on your own or based on what someone else tells you to do, or stop taking any medication you are taking.
3. Stress Management
Ongoing stress can cause your blood sugar levels to rise, so finding ways to manage stress is important for your overall health.
- Exercising
- Meditation
- Taking a break when you feel tired
- Getting enough sleep
- Limiting coffee and alcohol intake
Simple things like these can help you maintain good mental health and diabetes control.
Take-Home Message
- It's common for diabetes and depression to be linked. If you're feeling this way, it's not your fault.
- Be aware of the symptoms of depression. Sometimes you may think it's just a feeling of sadness, but pay attention to it.
- Managing diabetes is a long journey. Instead of trying to do everything right at once, set small goals and work towards them.
- The most important thing is to talk to your doctor about everything. Mental health is just as important as physical health. So don't hold back and say what you think.
- Don't turn down the help you get from your family, friends, and support groups. You are not alone on this journey.
Diabetes, depression, mental health, blood sugar, diabetes and depression, sugar control, stress
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