This year Diabetes Week is focusing on emotional well-being and mental health.

Sometimes the emotional burden of living with and managing diabetes can leave you feeling frustrated, guilty, sad, worried or overwhelmed.

Living with diabetes can cause distress.  For example, you may feel that one minute you’re doing well and then the next minute you’re struggling.  You might be embarrassed because no matter how hard you try sometimes you go off track. You may also be worried about the risk of long-term complications.

Diabetes distress becomes a serious problem when these emotions start to affect daily life including work, school, relationships and diabetes management.  If severe diabetes distress is not managed, it can get worse over time.

If you are feeling low or stressed because of your diabetes, or for any other reason, this can have an effect on managing your diabetes.  Please know you can always talk to your GP or Diabetes Educator. We’re here to help and support, not to judge or criticise you. We know it isn’t easy or straight forward.

Here are a few suggestions on managing emotional wellbeing and diabetes stress:

• Don’t be too hard on yourself. No-one is perfect and everyone struggles from time to time.

• If you have other stressful situations in your life, sometimes diabetes management has to be a lower priority and that is ok in the short term.

• If you feel like you’re failing; please be kind to yourself. It is important that you seek help from your GP or Diabetes Educator. They can help you to identify the feelings you are experiencing and assist you to get back on track.

• If you were a friend or family member looking at your situation right now, what advice would you give them? What kind and reassuring words would you offer?  Be kind to yourself, you’re worth it.

Your GP or Diabetes Educator can help you in re-setting your goals so they are more achievable. Smaller goals help you to feel satisfied that you are achieving them one step at a time and it encourages you to set your next goal.

Have you ever cancelled a health appointment for these reasons “I haven’t done the profile they asked for” or “I haven’t made the changes they asked for”.  We would prefer to see you and help you with whatever obstacles you faced rather than not see you at all. Remember we are just there to help and support you, not judge you.

You are much more than a person with diabetes.

It is always ok to ask for help. Below are details of services in Australia available any time, any where, any reason.

Lifeline 13 11 14

Kids Help Line 1800 551 800

Mensline Australia 1300 789 978

Beyond Blue 1300 224 636

This article has been written by Janet Rathbone – Diabetes Educator