Diabetes and your emotional wellbeing
Diabetes doesn't just affect you physically, it can affect you emotionally too.
Whether you've just been diagnosed or you've lived with diabetes for a long time, you may need support for all the emotions you're feeling. This could be stress, feeling low and depressed, or burnt out. The people around you can feel all of this too. Whatever you're feeling, you are not alone. Here's some information you might find helpful – you might like to share it with your family and friends too.
People with diabetes experience disproportionately high rates of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders. All people with diabetes should have access to psychological treatment and support to reduce psychological distress and improve self-management.
Diabetes doesn't just affect you physically, it can affect you emotionally too.
Whether you've just been diagnosed or you've lived with diabetes for a long time, you may need support for all the emotions you're feeling. This could be stress, feeling low and depressed, or burnt out. The people around you can feel all of this too. Whatever you're feeling, you are not alone. Here's some information you might find helpful – you might like to share it with your family and friends too.
Stress
Stress can affect your blood sugar levels, so we’ve got some useful advice to help you manage all sorts of emotions, including stress.
For tips on managing diabetes & stress we recommend following our guidelines on Diabetes & Stress.
For tips for managing your mental wellbeing or taking care of children around COVID-19 Te Whatu Ora has advice and tips here.
If you need to talk, you can free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor. They’re available day and night.
Focus on things you can control
If you're finding yourself worrying, it might help to try to focus on the things that you can control in your life. Here are some tips:
know your sick day rules
go to appointments if your healthcare team ask you to
check out your work policies around sickness and time off
keep important numbers handy
know the symptoms of COVID-19 and what to do if you begin to feel ill
make sure you have supplies and repeat prescriptions up to date
look after your body – try to make healthy food choices, be active, get enough sleep and wash your hands more often
make sure to look after your mind if you're staying at home – keep in touch with friends and family if you can
say no to things if you need to, and ask for help if you feel you need it
get your news from reliable sources, but it’s also okay to take a break from the news if it feels too much.
Things you can’t control
Focusing your mind on things out of your control won't change things. This can lead to worry, so gently try to redirect your attention.
You might be feeling nervous, because your condition may make you more vulnerable to becoming unwell. But you don’t have control over this, so try to be kind and compassionate to yourself if you are unwell.
If you are ill then you may have to miss work, school or appointments. This is okay and the best thing to do to look after yourself and others.
You might also be worrying about some diabetes appointments being cancelled or finding it difficult to get hold of your healthcare team. There might be alternative options, like phone or video appointments, so look into these. Most appointments aren't urgent, but if your diabetes team really need to see you they will get in touch with an appointment. It’s important that you try to go to these.
It’s not easy to stop feelings of anxiety and worry, and these are completely normal responses given the current circumstance. You can't control your feelings, but you can control what you do with them. Talking about how you’re feeling might help. And the Mental Health Foundation of NZ have got some useful information about taking care of your mental health too.
Talking about how you feel
Talking about diabetes and how it's making you feel isn’t always easy. It can be hard to get started, or find someone you think you can open up to. Maybe you don't feel like you need to talk about anything or you don't want to burden anyone. But offloading some of what you're feeling has so many benefits, both for you and for those close to you.
Read our advice on talking about your diabetes. We've got tips to help you start those conversations with your family and friends, your boss at work, and really importantly your healthcare professional team.
We have a number of resources available to help you to support your own and others’ wellbeing.
Language Matters
Diabetes Distress