“Diabetes distress is the personal, often hidden side of diabetes where patients become distressed about being able to manage their disease, obtaining the support they need, managing the emotional burden of diabetes and accessing needed care.”
As this quote from Gonzales, Fisher & Polonsky in Diabetes Care (2011 – Jan: 34 (1) 236-9) suggests, the demands of living with diabetes can be overwhelming as it requires a multitude of daily self-management activities and decisions. People can experience a range of thoughts and emotions as well as physical and behaviour symptoms:
Emotions
- Fear
- Anxious / overwhelmed / stressed
- Sadness / isolation
- Anger / resentment
- Guilt / regret
- Frustration / defeated / disappointed
Behaviour / Physical
- Withdrawn from family / friends / social activities
- Unproductive / lack of concentration
- Reliance on alcohol / substances
- Constanlty tired / no energy / run down
- Sleep disturbances
- Digestive upsets / weight changes / sick feeling
Thoughts / Questions
- What is my blood sugar level?
- Where is my meter?
- Do I have strips?
- When did I last eat?
- What do I eat?
- Are carbs bad or are fats bad?
- Why does my blood sugar vary so much when I eat the same foods every day?
- What happens if I hypo in front of people?
- Do I have any appointments today?
- What are people saying about my diabetes? Are they judging me?
- Am I doing my best?
- It’s my own fault! I’m a failure! I’m hopeless!
- Will I ever get my diabetes right?
Below is a short list of resources that you may find helpful. They cover a range of information, as there is no one support / counselling style that fits all. Please speak to your GP to discuss your symptoms along with accessing the right support that suits your individual needs.
Resources
Diabetes community support groups for type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Website: www.diabetesvic.org.au/support-groups
Phone: 1300 437 386
GP management plan (mental health plan)
Contact: Speak to your local GP
Black Dog Institute
Website: www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
Phone: (02) 9382 4530
Email: blackdog@blackdog.org.au (general enquires)
Beyond Blue
Website: www.beyondblue.org.au
Phone: 1300 224 636
DepressioNet
Website: www.depressionet.org.au
Behavioral Diabetes Institute
Website: www.behavioraldiabetes.org
The Diabetes Lifestyle Book: Facing your Fears & Making Changes for a long & Healthy Life
Authors: Jennifer Gregg, Glenn Callaghan and Steven Hayes
Lifeline
Website: www.lifeline.org.au
Phone: 13 11 14
