If you have diabetes, you know the condition isn’t purely physical. The mind and body are connected, which is why mindfulness and other mental methods can improve diabetic symptoms. Still, if psychological technologies can improve mental health, it’s only logical that the inverse might be true—diabetes can have a profound negative impact on a person’s psyche. Learn more through this examination of the psychological impact of diabetes.
Depression in People With Diabetes
People with diabetes are up to three times more likely to have depression than individuals without this condition. In addition, people with diabetes don’t always have the same support to help them mentally cope with their condition. In addition to this, there’s a feedback loop in which people with depression rarely exercise due to the condition. As such, they gain weight, which dysregulates their blood sugar further. To make matters worse, poor mental health could make them less likely to monitor their blood sugar, which is crucial to keeping them safe.
Emotional Distress in People With Diabetes
People with diabetes could experience deep emotional distress, especially about their symptoms. Constantly worrying about blood glucose levels, feeling frustrated with their condition, or feeling angry that they have to take extra precautions about their health is very common in people with diabetes. There’s a difference between emotional distress and depression. Depression is more long-lasting. The experience of depression also goes deeper than a sporadic episode of anger or emotional distress.
What Can You Do?
You’ll want to contact a naturopathic doctor if you feel that your diabetes diagnosis is significantly impacting your mental health. If you’ve been hesitant to do this because of finances, there are many affordable options you can consider. For instance, if you have common diabetic foot problems and find it difficult to travel for in-person therapy, you can go online and find a remote option that works for you.
In short, diabetes can come with several distressing symptoms. However, help is available. This condition doesn’t have to take over your life. You can get the help you need and lead a happy and fulfilling life.
