Coping

Coping with Diabetes

People with diabetes are more likely to have depression than people without diabetes. This may be due to:

• The strain of managing diabetes on a daily basis
• Feeling alone and “different” from family and friends
• Feeling out of control if you are having trouble keeping your blood sugar in your target range

Depression can make it hard to follow your diabetes care plan. If you are depressed, you may not have the energy to:

• Prepare and eat healthy meals
• Get regular exercise
• Take diabetes medicines
• Check your blood sugar

Diabetes is also linked to stress. Stress can increase your blood sugar and make you more likely to overeat. Consequently, increased blood sugar levels can cause stress.

Consider healthy ways to cope with depression and stress from living with diabetes.

• Physical activity
• Breathing exercises/ relaxation
• Make small, reachable goals and celebrate when you achieve them
• Replace negative, defeating thoughts with positive, more realistic ones
• Ensure healthy sleep patterns
• Get help from your diabetes care team
• Go outside
• Help others/volunteer/ social contact
• Consider joining a support group

Tell your health care team if you:

• Don’t have interest or find pleasure in your activities.
• Avoid talking about your diabetes with family and friends.
• Sleep most of the day or can’t sleep at night.
• Struggle with finding motivation or making a plan to manage your diabetes.
• Don’t see the use in taking care of yourself.
• Feel like diabetes is controlling you.
• Feel like you can’t take care of yourself.