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Have you ever seen a mental health provider with expertise in diabetes management?
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This is Tom R
I have participated in a diabetes focused research study on mental health and diabetes management.
My endocrinologist mentioned it to me once, but it was never followed up on.
No, but I am a Professional Counselor and have a few clients with T1D or children with it. What a difference it makes when someone completely understands.
An endo recommended one, but they were way too expensive.
I haven’t yet, but one year since diagnosis I am starting to think maybe I ought to talk to someone …
There are no therapists with expertise in T1D where I live. The book “Diabetes Sucks…and You Can Handle It” by T1D psychologist Mark Heyman has been an excellent resource for me during a very stressful time this year.
KCR–Thanks for citing useful references. 😇
I live in the NY Metro area where you can just about find specialists on any subject and haven’t found one yet. I have been shocked to meet doctors who don’t understand T1D. You would think with the number of people who have Diabetes doctors would at least know the difference between 1 & 2. So a therapist who knows anything about T1D is near to impossible.
Yes, I was referred to the therapist associated with the diabetes team. However, she commented that she understood what living with diabetes is like because she has to stand in line at the grocery and drive behind others on the beltline. She is now working with cancer patients. Too many look upon diabetes as a lucrative business opportunity.
Huh? What?
There have been times when I’ve felt it would have been nice to talk to someone, but has never found anyway that specializes in T1D. I really feel like that specialization doesn’t exist.
No one seems to know everything about T1D. I’ve found a lot of my questions answered by reading the daily Q&A in this forum.
Otherwise do your own research and figure it out. Don’t forget to tell your diabetes team what you find out to help them increase their knowledge. Lol.
My last year in the pediatric program they started with having a social worker. Then I moved to adult care and have been with a few programs—none have this type of resource
There have been a few times when a diabetes mental health professional would have been incredibly helpful, but no I haven’t seen one. To all the young people- this could be a lucrative career opportunity, especially with telehealth the geographic market could be limitless.
The closest professional who understood my situation as a type 1 was a certified diabetes educator who also is a diabetic herself. Unfortunately she represented a pump manufacturer that I’ve moved on from. Find great understanding and support from Diabetes groups.
My answer is no but I have wanted to!
I have seen a provider off and on for over 20 years. However they do not have diabetes experience.
But, I wish I had.
I have but my diabetes was not the real issue, it was situational depression. It helped that he knew so much about diabetes. I also have a good friend who is a mental health care provider who is a mother of a person with type 1 and she is great. We are both health care providers and share lots of knowledge and strategies for mental health with diabetes.
No, but it would definitely be helpful. My adolescent years would have been far less stressful.
Didn’t know they existed.
No, but I did see someone who specializes in the mental impact of chronic illness and disability.
I have participated in online sessions with Dr. Mark who is a diabetes psychologist.
In the Women’s T1D group I belong to, we’ve had a speaker who’s come a couple times, that does.
Haven’t reached that level yet to see a Mental Health Provider. However, I’m tired of T1D and all the B/S that surrounds it.