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Diabetes-related stress can affect a person’s emotional well-being, leading to feelings of frustration, burnout, diabetes distress, and others. Has T1D impacted your emotional health?
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I said I am not sure. I don’t think you can have a chronic disease and NOT be affected emotionally. You have to think about it constantly if you are going to survive it with your body in tact. I have my moments but overall, I’m a positive person and I try not to let it get me down. Be strong my T1D friends out there. You all are my inspiration.
I answered no problems. When I think of family members and friends dealing with chronic issues (bipolar, MS, Huntington’s Disease among others) I see my T1D as much more do-able and I have a lot more input/impact on how my life goes.
It hasn’t affected my on a long term basis but there are times the whole thing becomes such an overwhelming burden. I am lucky to have a positive attitidue, supportive husband, family and friends who let me have my moments and make sure I move on.
Yo some degree, diabetes-related distress is to be expected. When I’ve moved to a new city, the stress of finding a doctor who can take care of me is physician-related distress. When I start a new insulin regimen (pump v shots) regimen related stress is transient. Those who say they have not experienced DRD may not understand what it is.
Yes I had great diabetes stress before I went on my first Dexcom CGM G4 but since then my stress has been manageable. I fully believe that everyone diagnosed with diabetes should automatically be given a CGM.
I responded Yes to the question, but the burnout feelings do not impact my self care or the management decisions / requirements that are needed to be made on a daily basis. I completely understand that in order to manage this disease, there is no time for worrying about things I cannot change.
Diabetes had a big emotional effect at diagnosis only. I was diagnosed as a adult, 45 years ago, then 37 yo. Then I looked for psychological support. Later, I became much positive and I manage with just moderate stress.
I never felt this until I went through Menopause. Mainly because I could not find any good information on how this life change affected me. I felt lost, when it came to my diabetes, for the first time in 50 years. It’s only recently that I found information that is of some help (I’ve had T1 for almost 60 years now!).
I have had Diabetes-related stress, I usually self-help by giving myself a break and doing things I like to do. I’ve talked with my family and doctor but have not looked for other help.
I told my endo and he put me on a low dose of Citalopram which helped.
1,000% certain it has… unable to afford such care on any level. Dozens of locations, names have been called, emailed, visited. Between $150-$300 /session, care is not remotely affordable, therefore not possible. Some issues I can surely name, but, it is the one’s I cannot name which openly terrify me…. diabetes is an insidious, and malevolent disease. The mental muds and emotional quick sands of T1 are no less dangerous than any physical issue ever could be. Withour tools, it always wins…
Jeff Balbirnie–Although “we tend to think of hypochondria as shorthand for an illness that’s all in your head,” the people most worried about their health are very often the people who have the most reason to be. Otherwise, it’s just simply death on the installment plan. Sigh! 🤔🤔
Yes. But, it’s not just the diabetes. It’s the multitude of autoimmune diseases that I deal with, as well as other day to day pressures. I have handled it well for 47 years. But, as I get older more issues arise, including the stress of dealing with Medicare denials and appeals, the breakdown of the body, fear of losing my kidneys. It all builds up. But, I’ve handled stress well for years, and plan on continuing to do so.
I am grateful type 1 diabetes is understood by the medical community and accepted by society. It has helped me in numerous ways with the issues described compared to other conditions I have which need much more research to meet the acceptance and understanding diabetes has with both doctors and society.
A few months back I was feeling super depressed – “is this what I have to look forward to 24/7/365″?” I have had T1d for over 45 years but it just recently has started making me feel hopeless. I try to see all the good things I actually can still do and that helps but some days…..
All right, HOW do you and I fight then?! AND WIN, winning is the key part…. The disease ain’t going away… the complications are always whispering in the background laughing like something out of a Diabetic Exorcist starring Freddy Kruger Movie, “The Exorcist 4, Diabetes”…. HOW can we fight and WIN?!?!
I have had diabetes so long I cannot imagine not having it. Once I started using a pump and a CGM, everything seemed so easy. And I have always been pushy about accommodating my diabetes.
I am so used to living with T1D that it very rarely stresses me out any longer. It is what it is and I have learned to problem solve and self-advocate to manage the occasional glitches that come up.
T1 affects my wellbeing bc it is very/all consuming. My endo once told me that it’s like having another child. I don’t think many providers get it. I’ve tried to have conversations about it, but my providers really don’t get it AT ALL. I’m not out of the closet w T1 so while it consumes a large portion of my life- conscientiousness about every bite I take, activity in which I engage, and extreme emotions, I do not like the identity of being “ diabetic”. I think my providers don’t help bc they like to label me as diabetic or ill.