Whether you’re dating or married, if one of you has type 2 diabetes this means making great lifestyle changes as your wellbeing is at risk, so is it any wonder that it affects your relationship wellness too? You need to be focused on your diabetes management, carefully monitoring what you eat and checking your blood sugar frequently throughout the day, and if your partner is unfamiliar with the disease this can be difficult to understand.
Also, your partner is affected when you’re not always so careful about managing your diabetes. According to a study of people whose partners had type 2 diabetes, those who tried to exert control over their partners’ dietary behaviour felt particularly stressed and burdened. However, if you do get ill and need help, your diabetes care may fall to your partner.
Another side of diabetes effect on your relationship wellness comes in the bedroom. When you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it’s typical for you to feel fear, anger, depression, denial or even guilt, which can lead to a physical impact on sexual function. You can feel stress and anxiety due to emotional strain of dealing with diabetes and communication difficulties, which can lead to sexual dysfunction in relationships.
If you, your partner, or both of you have diabetes, it’s important to remain open and loving and strengthen your emotional bond, so together you can navigate the changes that diabetes requires. Start by talking to each other about what you’re afraid of, what you’re angry about, and what you need from your partner, making sure that you answer your partner’s questions too. You might find it helpful to join a support group for people with diabetes or family members of people with diabetes, as this allows you to talk to others experiencing the same challenges you are, and you can also exchange ideas on how to cope.
Whatever you do, make sure you do it all together. Find a relaxing activity or hobby that you each enjoy, together and alone, and make time the time for fun as diabetes management can be stressful. Commit to lifestyle changes together, so that the person with diabetes is not alone, and you can both see your wellness improve. Finally, attend a diabetes education class together so you both know what lies ahead, and you can face it together.
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