If you or a loved one find yourself navigating the world with type one diabetes, you understand how demanding and overwhelming managing diabetes can feel. It’s no wonder that there is an increased risk for a variety of emotional health issues (including burnout, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders) for individuals with type one and their families.
After receiving a diagnosis of type one diabetes, there is a huge learning curve and often a period of grieving that can take place. For many, this diagnosis can come as a shock, and for parents or loved ones of the diagnosed individual, there can even be a sense of guilt surrounding not recognizing the signs sooner. Even though type one diabetes has no known cause of onset, you may question “did I do something to cause this” or “what could I have done differently to prevent this from happening?” There is a period of grieving that may happen for individuals and/or their loved ones after receiving a diagnosis as they come to terms with the loss of what their life looked like without diabetes and try to figure out what life with diabetes looks like moving forward. It is so important to be able to process through these thoughts and feelings in order to free yourself from any guilt or shame that may be showing up for you.
Another way shame can often present itself when it comes to type one diabetes is feeling different from your peers. Living with diabetes can feel isolating because you are having to think about and manage something that most people’s body does naturally for them. Finding a way to manage your diabetes without feeling like diabetes has taken over your life can be tough, and you may even face interactions with individuals who try to make your diagnosis your whole identity. It can also feel difficult to navigate interactions with individuals who may be uneducated about what type one diabetes is. Many people have a limited understanding of diabetes in general, especially type one diabetes, and may make comments rooted in ignorance, which can be uncomfortable or even hurtful.
Individuals with type one may experience feelings of anxiety related to managing their diabetes, which can present in different ways. For some individuals, anxiety may look like experiencing intense fears of low blood sugar, which may impact the amount of insulin that individual takes, potentially leading to higher blood sugar levels. For others, anxiety may look like avoidance of certain activities or foods, or fear of receiving undesirable reports when visiting the doctor. Because type one is managed in a very numeric way, some individuals will find themselves struggling with never feeling “good enough” because of the need to constantly work to stay in an ideal blood sugar range. This can become exhausting, and potentially lead to feelings of burnout, so it is important to find a balance that works for you.
Anxiety can frequently increase during transition periods in your life, whether you are diabetic or not, however when you are navigating managing diabetes, it adds another layer of complexity to any life transition. The transition into young adulthood tends to be a particularly impactful transition period for type one diabetics. During this time, individuals are likely taking over full control of their diabetes management on top of navigating the typical shifts and changes that happen during this time. It can feel overwhelming to take on the full responsibility of the self advocacy and care related to your diabetes management. When it comes to diabetes management, self advocacy is an extremely important skill to develop, especially when entering young adulthood, and is something that can be explored and practiced in the therapeutic setting.
Another common mental health concern that can show up in type one diabetics is eating disorders. Individuals with type one are twice as likely to experience disordered eating patterns than individuals without type one. This may present itself in various forms, however it is commonly seen as insulin restriction, or diabulimia. Some of the misunderstood stereotypes of diabetes can also play into feelings surrounding body image for type one diabetics, as comments like “you don’t look like you have diabetes” are unfortunately common.
Navigating life with type one diabetes can feel overwhelming at times, but the good news is that you don’t have to navigate this alone! Whether you are an individual who is newly diagnosed, a type one diabetes veteran, or a loved one who wants to better support the type one diabetic in your life, having a space to process how diabetes is impacting your mental health may be extremely helpful.