LIVING
The emoTionaL S
Feeling glum, a bit low, down in the dumps, got the blues?
You’re not alone. Look around and see what’s out there that
can help you. This is what we’ve found.
e
arlier this month there control, and we don’t like feeling that things diabetes and we often have to ‘report in’
was a National Stress are out of our control. When it comes to to our doctor too, which can sometimes
Awareness Day. You diabetes, you can feel simultaneously in make us feel like we’re failing if all our
might not have been control and out of control. You may feel readings aren’t good oens. However, it’s
aware of it – probably too out of control because of how diabetes possible to become too focused on (and
stressed to either notice or care. Feeling affects your body. It is possible to feel therefore stressed about) that level of
stressed is not a depressive state, but that nothing is in your control anymore. control. You can start to feel if you don’t
too much stress can lead you to feeling You can’t eat what you want when you do everything perfectly every day, then
out of control, and feel want. You have to take you will damage yourself.
that for long enough and It is estimated that medications or give To counteract the feeling of ‘too much
you could end up feeling yourself injections. You control’, just as with the out of control
bad. Let that happen
one in six people can start, perhaps, to feel feeling, it’s helpful to take a step back.
for long enough and in the UK will suffer that your body isn’t your Realize that you are doing the best you
you could be in danger
from depression in own anymore. can in managing your diabetes. Release
of being depressed. It To counteract that the expectation to do it ‘perfectly’. If you
is estimated that one in their lifetime, and they ‘out of control’ feeling are following your doctor’s instructions,
six people in the UK will won’t necessarily be take a step back and you are doing well and being healthy;
suffer from depression an objective look at the remember that and remind yourself of
in their lifetime, and they
living with diabetes. situation may help. You it when you start to stress about ‘doing
won’t necessarily be can say to yourself, “Yes, more’.
living with diabetes. diabetes makes me do Even with the knowledge that you
these things, but diabetes does not run have some control over diabetes, you
Taking the long view my life.” A mantra along those lines— will still be emotionally vulnerable to
As we’ve said before, living with diabetes repeated at moments when you’re feeling frustration, anger, and discouragement—
is a marathon not a sprint. You don’t get particularly out of control—can help. and that’s understandable. You may even
a day off, and you still have to get on Also, you can do a mental mind shift: all become depressed.
with the rest of life just like anyone else – these steps you’re taking to manage your
commuting, paying the mortgage and so diabetes are actually proactive, healthy Diabetes and Depression
on, you just do it with diabetes in the mix. steps. You are taking control of your If you think that you may be depressed,
This article first appeared on the condition and life as you learn how to you need to confront it, because studies
Diabetes Lifestyle website and is written thrive with diabetes. have shown that people who battle
by Matt Nilsen and works as a list of depression and diabetes together tend to
items that can build up to get you down. Diabetes and ‘being in control’ suffer more from diabetic complications.
By acknowledging them you can also try We’d all like to be in control, especially Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned
to deal with them. when it comes to having good blood about depression.
“Let’s face it: most of us like being in glucose control. Control is a big deal in Fortunately, most people who