Diabetes' Effect on Your Mental Health
This year's National Diabetes Week began on July 13. Each year's campaign focuses on a different area of diabetes living and strives to increase awareness of the substantial physical and mental health consequences that sufferers endure.
Diabetes is a disorder in which the body is unable to regulate the hormone insulin, which is responsible for blood sugar regulation. If left unchecked, this might result in abnormally low or excessively high blood sugar levels, which can have major health effects.
Type 1 diabetes typically develops throughout childhood, and those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes must take insulin everyday for the remainder of their lives. Type 2 diabetes can strike at any time and is often treatable with diet and lifestyle changes. Diabetes affects around 1.7 million Australians and is the fastest rising chronic disease in the country.
Although diabetes is commonly thought of as a strictly physical ailment, being diagnosed with it can have a catastrophic effect on your mental health.
Up to half of all diabetics are believed to have a mental disease such as depression or anxiety, which can raise the risk of complications and result in poor health outcomes.
If you've had diabetes for a while or were recently diagnosed, it's critical to be aware of these mental health issues. While diet, exercise, and blood glucose monitoring are all critical components of a treatment plan, mental wellness is just as critical.
Diabetic complications and depression
Diabetes and depression are inextricably linked. According to several research, diabetes increases your risk of developing depression. However, why is this the case?
Diabetes, like any other chronic medical disease, adds strain and pressure to your life, which can have a detrimental effect on your mental health.
The ongoing requirement to adhere to a tight diet, monitor blood glucose levels, and take insulin can be taxing. There is no option for a break, and it may feel impossible to continue at times.
Diagnosis of diabetes can be a great shock, and the majority of people experience a range of emotions, from denial and anxiety to irritation and fury. Grief is another typical emotion experienced by sufferers, as they lament their past health and way of life. While experiencing these feelings is a natural part of dealing with a chronic condition's diagnosis, in some situations, they can provoke severe sadness or even suicidal thoughts.
Constantly living in the shadow of the condition and worrying about the future may also be quite unpleasant for persons with diabetes. Individuals with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have a fourfold increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke, a threefold increased risk of renal failure, and a fifteenfold increased risk of requiring amputation at some point in their lives.
With such dismal numbers, it's unsurprising that diabetics can feel overwhelmed and depressed at times. However, if the occasional poor day becomes a more persistent experience of depression or anxiety, this is a strong indication that additional treatment and support are needed.
Why Poor mental health can exacerbate diabetes
When you're depressed, it can be challenging to summon the energy necessary to do even the most ordinary daily duties. This means that individuals who have diabetes and are also depressed may begin to disregard their essential daily care routines. This may involve the following:
Forgetting to collect blood glucose readings or failing to do so
Forgetting to take insulin or neglecting to do so
Consuming insufficient calories, excessive calories, or bad foods
Abandoning regular physical activity.
For someone who does not have diabetes, a few months of poor eating habits will likely have no long-term effect on their health. However, if you have diabetes, failing to maintain target blood sugar levels can swiftly result in serious and life-threatening complications such as hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis.
Additionally, studies have shown that diabetics who are stressed or depressed have higher blood glucose levels, even if they are taking their medicine as prescribed and consuming a nutritious diet.
In the long run, poor diabetes management increases the risk of developing complications such as kidney disease, high blood pressure, heart disease, foot ulcers, and visual difficulties.
These deteriorating health conditions can exacerbate mental pressure, perpetuating the cycle.
The Warning Signs That You Might Be Suffering from Depression
It is not always clear when someone is depressed, even more so when that person is you. Many people believe that being depressed requires being unable to get out of bed or suicidal, yet these debilitating kinds of depression account for a relatively tiny fraction of all cases.
Keep an eye out for the following warning signs of depression and seek additional assistance if there has been no change after a few weeks:
Consistently depressed mood or feeling gloomy
Persistent anxiety or guilt
Not interested in hobbies or extracurricular activities
Unwillingness to leave the house
Distancing oneself from relatives and family
Concentration difficulties at school or work
Excessive alcohol consumption or drug use
Constantly exhausted
Sexual interest waning
Sleeping difficulties or excessive sleep
Appetite problems and weight loss, or excessive eating and weight gain.
How to Take Mental Care of Yourself
If you believe you may be suffering from depression or anxiety, it is critical that you seek treatment. While mental health disorders can be treated, they rarely resolve on their own.
Consult your physician as a first step. It's critical to combine your diabetes control with depression treatment, and your doctor is most equipped to recommend the medications that will work best for your unique circumstances.
Along with obtaining medical attention, communicate your feelings to friends and family. Assistance and support from folks in your immediate circle are critical for overcoming mental health challenges.
Keeping a diet and medicine journal is beneficial for diabetics. If you haven't already, this is a wonderful place to start, and you can also use your log to keep track of your mood and amount of stress. Maintain a track of your physical activity as well - many people find that exercise helps them cope with stress and improves their mood.
Relaxing activities such as yoga and meditation, as well as taking a hot bath or reading a book, can help to reduce stress levels, allowing you to cope better with your illness. Make a point of pausing each day to breathe slowly and relax. Physical activity can also be extremely beneficial for relaxing.
Counseling for depression can be beneficial for a wide variety of people. In counseling, you and a qualified professional discuss your thoughts and feelings and work together to build coping techniques and more constructive ways of thinking.
Medicare may cover psychologist bills if you have a chronic disease, such as diabetes, and your doctor refers you - another reason why it's critical to get medical help if you're concerned about your mental health.