|  | Conditions Treatments | Diabetes

Psycho-Social Challenges With Diabetes

Whether it is Type 2 or Type 1 (juvenile onset) diabetes, this disease is not an easy one to manage. Diabetes comes with a number of psycho-social challenges. These include concerns about medical equipment, depression and mood swings due to high and low blood sugar, feelings of failure when the disease is not under control and worries about future complications.

  1. Psychological Impact of Medical Equipment

    • Some people with diabetes can feel awkward testing their blood glucose.

      Those with diabetes must carry equipment, such as a ready source of sugar, needles, blood glucose meters and sometimes an insulin pump. Some people with diabetes are bothered by the equipment and feel uncomfortably exposed when they need to inject insulin or test their blood glucose.

    Mood Swings

    • Changes in blood glucose can affect a person's mood.

      Changes in blood glucose affect people differently. People with diabetes can experience depression from high blood glucose and may experience anger when their blood glucose is high or low.

    Misconceptions About Diabetes Control

    • Having good communication with a doctor is essential in diabetes management.

      People with diabetes often feel as if they need to be in perfect control of their blood glucose or they may abandon hope of controlling their condition. Doctors and patients need to work together to establish good communication and reasonable expectations for blood glucose control so people with diabetes feel empowered to control their disease.

    Preventing Complications

    • Keeping healthy is a common concern of people with diabetes.

      People with diabetes may have concerns about future complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, amputation and blindness. These are valid concerns and need to be addressed with a practical plan to maintain good control of glucose. Serious concerns may need to be addressed in therapy.

    Considerations in Diabetes Management

    • Good mental health is important for diabetes management.

      Diabetes is a disorder that requires a health care team. This team consists of the person with diabetes, the doctor and mental health professionals. While the mental health aspects of diabetes are often overlooked, good mental health is important for maintaining good diabetes management and overall well-being.

Diabetes - Related Articles