{"id":6675,"date":"2024-02-13T10:31:24","date_gmt":"2024-02-13T05:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/?p=6675"},"modified":"2024-11-20T10:57:48","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T05:27:48","slug":"diabetes-and-mental-health-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/diabetes-and-mental-health-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Diabetes and Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"row \">\n<div class=\"col-md-12\">\n<div class=\"cdc-textblock\">\n<h3 id=\"content\" class=\"page-title\">Diabetes and Mental Health<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Is mental health pretty low on your list of priorities for managing diabetes? This may change your mind.<\/strong><br \/>\nMental health affects many aspects of daily life\u2014how you think and feel, handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. You can see how having a mental health problem could make it harder to stick to your diabetes care plan.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7577 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mental-diabetes-1680260824212-compressed.jpg?resize=300%2C169&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Diabetes and Mental Health\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mental-diabetes-1680260824212-compressed.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mental-diabetes-1680260824212-compressed.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mental-diabetes-1680260824212-compressed.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mental-diabetes-1680260824212-compressed.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>The Mind-Body Connection<\/h3>\n<p>Thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes can affect how healthy your body is. Untreated mental health issues can make diabetes worse, and problems with diabetes can make mental health issues worse. But fortunately if one gets better, the other tends to get better, too.<\/p>\n<h3>Depression: More Than Just a Bad Mood<\/h3>\n<p>Depression is a medical illness that causes feelings of sadness and often a loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy. It can influence how well you function at work and home, including taking care of your diabetes. When you aren\u2019t able to manage your diabetes well, your risk goes up for diabetes complications like heart disease and nerve damage.<\/p>\n<p>People with diabetes are 2 to 3 times more likely to have depression than people without diabetes. Only 25% to 50% of people with diabetes who have depression get diagnosed and treated. But treatment\u2014therapy, medicine, or both\u2014is usually very effective. And without treatment, depression often gets worse, not better.<\/p>\n<p>Symptoms of depression can be mild to severe and include:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Feeling sad or empty<\/li>\n<li>Losing interest in favorite activities<\/li>\n<li>Overeating or not wanting to eat at all<\/li>\n<li>Not being able to sleep or sleeping too much<\/li>\n<li>Having trouble concentrating or making decisions<\/li>\n<li>Feeling very tired<\/li>\n<li>Feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious, or guilty<\/li>\n<li>Having aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems<\/li>\n<li>Having thoughts of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/violenceprevention\/suicide\/\">suicide<\/a>\u00a0or death<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you think you might have depression, get in touch with your doctor right away for help getting treatment. The earlier depression is treated, the better for you, your quality of life, and your diabetes.<\/p>\n<h3>Stress and Anxiety<\/h3>\n<p>Stress is part of life, from traffic jams to family demands to everyday diabetes care. You can feel stress as an emotion, such as fear or anger, or as a physical reaction, like sweating or racing heart, or both.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re stressed, you may not take as good care of yourself as usual. Your blood sugar levels can be affected too\u2014stress hormones make blood sugar rise or fall unpredictably, and stress from being sick or injured can increase your blood sugar. Being stressed for a long time can lead to other health problems or make them worse.<\/p>\n<p>Anxiety\u2014feelings of worry, fear, or being on edge\u2014is how your mind and body react to stress. People with diabetes are 20% more likely than those without diabetes to have anxiety at some point in their life. Managing a long-term condition like diabetes is a major source of anxiety for some.<\/p>\n<p>Studies show that therapy for anxiety usually works better than medicine, but sometimes both together works best. You can also help lower your stress and anxiety by:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Getting\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/diabetes\/library\/features\/get-moving-to-manage-diabetes.html\">active<\/a>: even a quick walk can be calming, and the effect can last for hours.<\/li>\n<li>Doing some relaxation exercises, like meditation or yoga.<\/li>\n<li>Calling or texting a friend who understands you (not someone who is causing you stress!).<\/li>\n<li>Grabbing some \u201cyou\u201d time. Take a break from whatever you\u2019re doing. Go outside, read something fun\u2014whatever helps you recharge.<\/li>\n<li>Limiting alcohol and caffeine,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/diabetes\/managing\/eat-well.html\">eating healthy food<\/a>, and getting enough sleep.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Anxiety can feel like low blood sugar and vice versa. It may be hard for you to recognize which it is and treat it effectively. If you\u2019re feeling anxious, try checking your blood sugar and treat it if it\u2019s low.<\/p>\n<p>There will always be some stress in life. But if you feel overwhelmed, talking to a mental health counselor can help. Ask your doctor for a referral.<\/p>\n<div class=\"w-md-col3 float-md-right ml-md-3\">\n<div class=\"card ds-5 mb-3 \">\n<div class=\"card-body image-with-caption\">\n<p>Getting help for a mental health issue can help you manage diabetes, too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Diabetes Distress<\/h3>\n<p>You may sometimes feel discouraged, worried, frustrated, or tired of dealing with daily diabetes care, like diabetes is controlling you instead of the other way around. Maybe you\u2019ve been trying hard but not seeing results. Or you\u2019ve developed a health problem related to diabetes despite your best efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Those overwhelming feelings, known as diabetes distress, may cause you to slip into unhealthy habits, stop checking your blood sugar, even skip doctor\u2019s appointments. It happens to many\u2014if not most\u2014people with diabetes, often after years of good management. In any 18 months, 33% to 50% of people with diabetes have diabetes distress.<\/p>\n<p>Diabetes distress can look like depression or anxiety, but it can\u2019t be treated effectively with medicine. Instead, these approaches have been shown to help:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Make sure you\u2019re seeing an endocrinologist for your diabetes care. He or she is likely to have a deeper understanding of diabetes challenges than your regular doctor.<\/li>\n<li>Ask your doctor to refer you to a mental health counselor who specializes in chronic health conditions.<\/li>\n<li>Get some one-on-one time with a\u00a0<a class=\"tp-link-policy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.diabeteseducator.org\/living-with-diabetes\/how-a-diabetes-educator-can-help-you\" data-domain-ext=\"org\">diabetes educator<\/a>\u00a0so you can problem-solve together.<\/li>\n<li>Focus on one or two small\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/diabetes\/library\/4steps.html\">diabetes management<\/a>\u00a0goals instead of thinking you have to work on everything all at once.<\/li>\n<li>Join a\u00a0<a class=\"tp-link-policy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.diabeteseducator.org\/docs\/default-source\/legacy-docs\/_resources\/pdf\/general\/Social_Media_Handout.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-domain-ext=\"org\">diabetes support group\u00a0<span class=\"file-details\">[PDF<\/span><\/a><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.diabeteseducator.org\/docs\/default-source\/legacy-docs\/_resources\/pdf\/general\/Social_Media_Handout.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u20141.27 MB]<\/a> to share your thoughts and feelings with people who have the same concerns (and learn from them,<\/span>\u00a0too).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Talk to Your Health Care Team<\/h3>\n<p>Your health care team knows diabetes is challenging, but may not understand\u00a0<em><strong>how<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0challenging. And you may not be used to talking about feeling sad or down. But if you\u2019re concerned about your mental health, let your doctor know right away. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/type-1-diabetes-mellitus-early-detection\/\">You\u2019re not alone\u2014help is available!<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7580 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/healthcare-team2-1-702x360-1.webp?resize=300%2C154&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"health care team\" width=\"300\" height=\"154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/healthcare-team2-1-702x360-1.webp?resize=300%2C154&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/healthcare-team2-1-702x360-1.webp?w=702&amp;ssl=1 702w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Mental Health and diabetes self-care<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Stress can cause an unexpected increase or decrease in blood sugar, making insulin management more challenging.<sup>1<\/sup><\/li>\n<li>People experiencing depression may have symptoms like low energy, loss of interest in activities, or feelings of despair and hopelessness. That can impact eating habits, physical activity, self-care, and decision-making, affecting diabetes management.<\/li>\n<li>Low blood sugar can mimic anxiety symptoms.<\/li>\n<li>Weight gain can be a side effect of medications that treat mental health conditions. This may make it harder for people with diabetes to maintain a healthy weight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"#prediabetes\">Managing prediabetes and mental health<\/h2>\n<p>People with serious mental health conditions are at an increased risk of chronic disease, particularly\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4592657\/\">heart disease<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4911762\/\">diabetes<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0749379709000245\">obesity<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If you have a mental health condition and prediabetes, a lifestyle change program could help you make healthier choices to prevent type 2 diabetes and manage your mental health symptoms. Studies show lifestyle choices, especially eating nutritious foods or exercising, can help manage stress and mental health triggers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row \">\n<div class=\"col-md-12\">\n<div class=\"card mb-3\">\n<div class=\"card-header h4 bg-gray-l3\">Learn More<\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/type-1-diabetes-mellitus-early-detection\/\">https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/type-1-diabetes-mellitus-early-detection\/<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Diabetes and Mental Health Is mental health pretty low on your list of priorities for&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":670,"featured_media":6677,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2500,1],"tags":[543,311],"class_list":["post-6675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-anxiety-disorder","category-uncategorized","tag-diabetes","tag-mental-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/GettyImages-1357522267.jpg?fit=2560%2C1709&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/670"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6675"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6675\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7581,"href":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6675\/revisions\/7581"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6677"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diabetesasia.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}