Your Emotions and Diabetes
There is much conversation and advice around drugs, food, and exercise to control the harmful side effects of diabetes. Stress and emotions play a huge role in the disease, but are not talked about as much. Stress affects our diet, the food we eat, and the exercise we are willing to engage in.
The diagnosis of diabetes can come as a complete shock and evoke a wide range of feelings. The diagnosis usually comes with recommendations for lifestyle changes to prevent the negative effects of the disease on your health.
I was diagnosed with diabetes when my daughter died. My stress level was extremely high.
I am convinced diabetes has different components.
Some feel shame because they have a false belief, that they brought this disease on themselves by gaining weight. Considering weight gain is a factor, why not examine the root cause of the weight gain and eliminate that and the shame?
You can get rid of the pounds, and there is no shame in doing it. Learn how to forgive yourself every day and move forward toward healing.
One emotion, I urge you to avoid, is denial when told you have the disease. This reaction will make it harder for you to make the changes needed to improve your health.
Take a few deep breaths and talk to your healthcare provider or diabetes education specialist. Start by making lifestyle adjustments and see how they affect your blood sugar.
You should be gentle with yourself because managing diabetes depends on forming new habits. If you have ever quit smoking or started a new routine, like exercising or losing weight, you know that it is not always easy or successful the first time.
Do not go this alone. Your diabetic educator can give you tips, advice, and common pitfalls to avoid, helping you succeed. A diabetic support group online or offline is a necessity as well.
The two major emotions are love and fear, and all emotions originate from those two. Be wary of fear.
You may be afraid of insulin, not eating your favorite foods, and gaining weight. You might be terrified of the long-term side effects. Losing a limb, your eyesight, or a kidney. Please know that, when you take your health seriously and educate yourself, you may never encounter these negative effects.
Education and support will allow you to eat your favorite foods in moderation and, like millions of people with diabetes, you can live a normal life for decades. Let go of the fear.
Oh, about advice from friends. Listen respectfully and guardedly. When I feel that it will improve my health, I take advice from friends cautiously. Say no to frightening or horror stories. The best guidelines to follow initially need to come from reliable sources.
Back to stress. There is almost no way to avoid some stress in modern-day life. The key is knowing when you are stressed and managing it, so it does not cause damage to you emotionally and physically.
See the suggestions below that have been helpful to me.
- Watch what I eat, because being stressed can indicate mindless eating.
- Even if I only have a few moments throughout the day, I meditate.
- Pray.
- Exercise, swim, walk, or sit outdoors.
- Talking problems over with a friend or doctor.
- Write, draw, sing, read, anything artistic to draw you inward away from the stressor.
There are times we do our best and our blood glucose does not respond favorably. Do not stress and become fearful. Talk to your healthcare team for advice. If you are depressed, avoid shutting down and withdrawing. Get medication if needed. No Shame. Depression, along with stress, will have an impact on your diabetic management.
The bottom line is, that having diabetes comes with manageable challenges. With the assistance of your healthcare provider, support groups, online or off, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the American Diabetic Association, you will never be alone and will strengthen your coping skills, ensuring your well-being in the future.
HWB
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