According to a recent survey of 458 women and 373 men living with type 2 diabetes, half of the women and just under a third of the men reported feeling overwhelmed by this condition. Jenny De Jesus, RN, CDE, a diabetes educator at The Friedman Diabetes Institute at Beth Israel Medical Centre in New York City, says, ‘Living with diabetes can be challenging. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by diabetes and all that comes with it.’
Whether your physical or emotional stresses are perceived or real, you can suffer from emotional burnout. Your care plan may feel like too much to handle or bother with, or you could be sick of monitoring your blood glucose or having to watch your diet. It is important to note that these are normal feelings, and that there is a way by which you can regain a more positive mentality. The National Diabetes Education Program recommends taking a few minutes each day to spend time on a hobby you enjoy, meditate, or practice deep breathing. You could also keep a journal. You’re probably already doing this to record what you eat and your glucose levels, but also note how you feel each day, what is bothering you and what makes you feel better.
Could you divide your management plan into smaller steps so seems easier to master, or talk to someone about it? According to De Jesus, your family and friends ‘can help you put things into perspective and get back on track’. They can attend classes with you or help you with online research. Finally, doctors are becoming more and more aware of diabetes-related stress and depression, so discuss your situation with your physician or diabetes educator so they can offer you insights to better manage whatever is troubling you.