Balancing diabetes management and mental well-being

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that is underpinned by high blood sugar levels. These elevated levels result from the body’s inability to effectively use or produce insulin, and can typically be categorised as one of two main types: type 1 or type 2 diabetes. But what is the difference?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and is characterised by a complete lack of insulin production, requiring lifelong insulin. Living with type 1 diabetes requires paying careful attention to blood sugar levels to prevent complications, and frequent visits to healthcare professionals, including endocrinologists and diabetes educators. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is more common and is characterised by the body not producing enough insulin or becoming resistant to its effects, causing elevated blood sugar levels.

Diabetes and mental well-being

Although diabetes is a physical condition, it can have a knock-on effect on an individual’s mental well-being. As a result, diabetes and mental well-being are closely connected, and individuals living with diabetes are at an increased risk of experiencing challenges with their mental well-being. This often results from the daily demands of managing diabetes, the potential complications, and the overall impact on daily life. 

Here are just some of the ways that diabetes and its management can affect your mental well-being: 

• Emotional distress. The constant need to monitor your blood sugar levels, take medications, and manage your lifestyle can cause stress, anxiety, and frustration. What’s more, the fear of experiencing complications or the burden of the non-stop self-care can take a toll on your mental wellness.
• Depression. People living with diabetes have a higher risk of depression, with figures suggesting a 2 to 3-fold increased risk compared to those without diabetes. The emotional distress experienced due to diabetes management can contribute to the development of depressive symptoms.
• Anxiety. The uncertainty and unpredictability of your blood sugar levels can trigger anxiety and hypervigilance about potential high or low blood sugar episodes.
• Disordered eating. Diabetes management requires a lot of attention to your food choices, which can sometimes cause disordered eating behaviours. This is especially relevant in people living with type 1 diabetes.

Not only can diabetes management impact mental well-being, but mental well-being can also have an impact on diabetes management. This creates an ongoing cycle that can negatively impact an individual’s daily life if a balance is not created.

• Poor adherence. It comes as no surprise that when balancing diabetes management becomes a burden, consistency goes straight out of the window. Many people living with diabetes may struggle to consistently manage their condition if the constant need to monitor their health impacts their mental well-being. This can lead to poor adherence to medication and lifestyle changes.
• Unhealthy coping mechanisms. In some instances, people with diabetes may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms like overeating, a lack of physical activity, or alcohol, which can worsen their diabetes.

How to balance it all

Given the close relationship between balancing diabetes management and mental well-being, it is important that we address both aspects in a holistic manner. Let’s dive into some strategies to support mental well-being in people living with diabetes.

• Diabetes education and support: Ensuring that people living with diabetes and those close to them have access to proper education about diabetes self-care and the ongoing support available to them can help reduce stress and anxiety.
• Mental health support: For people who continue to struggle with balancing diabetes management and the impact it has on their mental well-being, reaching out to mental health specialists is a great option. Access to counselling or therapy can be really helpful in addressing what is causing a disbalance and finding ways to manage your condition.
• Peer support: Engaging with support groups or connecting with others who are living with diabetes can help you feel less isolated and provide practical tips for managing the condition.
• Physical activity: Exercise is one of the most beneficial strategies to not only support your mental well-being but also have a positive impact on diabetes management.
• Eating a balanced diet: Food is often a trigger for poor mental well-being as it is at the centre of diabetes management. However, encouraging and following a balanced diet can help address any disordered eating behaviours and is essential for both diabetes management and mental health.
• Mindfulness and meditation: Interventions, such as mindfulness and meditation, have shown significant improvements in diabetes distress and glycaemic control in people living with diabetes.

Breaking the cycle of diabetes management, its burden on daily activities and the resulting poor mental well-being is vital to ensure the overall health of people living with diabetes. Although balancing diabetes management and mental well-being, at times, may seem like an impossible task, there are many different strategies that can be adopted to support the mental well-being of people living with diabetes, such as those discussed in this post.