FEBRUARY 2021

By Carly Skillington , LISW-S

Diabetes alone can be a difficult condition to manage . That ’ s why it ’ s so important , while managing your diabetes , not to forget the mind-body connection .

The mind-body connection is how a person ’ s thoughts , feelings beliefs and attitudes affect their body and physical health . Untreated mental health can worsen a person ’ s physical health . The worse you feel physically , the harder it can be to feel good mentally .

People with diabetes are more likely to have depression than those without diabetes ( Centers for Disease Control , 2020 ). It ’ s often under-diagnosed and under-treated . Depression symptoms can sometimes look like other things .

People with diabetes are also more likely to struggle with anxiety ( CDC , 2020 ), which is how your body reacts to stress , worry , and fear ( NAMI , 2020 ). Overthinking is a common symptom of anxiety . A side effect of stress and anxiety , for some people , can be having trouble taking care

of their bodies . Long-term stress can be very bad for your health .

Diabetes distress is an emotional state a person with diabetes feels from the burden of living with diabetes . These emotions may include worry , frustration , and discouragement . It can feel like your diabetes is controlling you ( CDC , 2020 ). It looks like depression or anxiety but can ’ t be treated with medication like those conditions can . Diabetes distress can cause burnout in managing your diabetes ( CDC , 2020 ). This can lead to unhealthy eating , not measuring your blood sugar , and skipping doctor ’ s appointments . Diabetes distress can happen at any time . In any 18-month period , up to half of people with diabetes experience diabetes distress ( CDC , 2020 ).

So , what can you do ? Fortunately there are many resources and support systems out there to help take care of both your physical and mental health .

First , ask for help . If you ’ re feeling any of the symptoms of depression , anxiety , or distress , talk to your doctor . They can connect you with counseling and other support services that you may need .

You can also seek out mental health care . Talking with family and friends can be helpful but , joining support groups to talk with people who have had similar experiences can be useful , too . Telling others how you feel can begin to lessen some stress ( CDC , 2020 ).