Why do diabetes, anxiety and stress go hand in hand?
Ken Tait has been a type 2 diabetic since 1999. He is a qualified psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, executive coach and mentor. He specialises in emotional problems for people with long term conditions (LTC) and their carers e.g. diabetes, cancer, who suffer from stress, anxiety, or depression. He also organises and runs a type 2 diabetic peer support group in Bromley, Kent.
According to Diabetes.co.uk, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK is estimated to be 3.5 million with up to 549,000 extra people living with diabetes but not yet diagnosed.
Below is a table of differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes – it is a little of a generalisation – type 2’s are not always overweight or obese. There are other conditions that can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes such as taking steroids for asthma, thiazide diuretics, beta-blockers, antipsychotics and statins. In addition, chronic insomnia in healthy adults will also increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.
Differences between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes
Often diagnosed in childhood
Not associated with excess body weight
Often associated with higher than normal ketone levels at diagnosis
Treated with insulin injections or insulin pump
Cannot be controlled without taking insulin
Type 2 Diabetes
Usually diagnosed in over 30 year olds
Often associated with excess body weight
Often associated with high blood pressure and/or cholesterol levels at diagnosis
Is usually treated initially without medication or with tablets
Sometimes possible to come off diabetes medication
As a type 2 diabetic on insulin I can understand why diabetics can get stressed.
The daily grind of checking sugar levels, counting carbs, thinking did I give myself enough insulin to cover what I have just eaten or well-meaning people saying you can’t eat that, all add up. Our modern day lifestyle, however, will also affect sugar levels and emotional problems such as stress, can raise sugar levels and this is less well known.
“Stress hormones in your body may directly affect glucose levels. When under mental stress, people with type 2 diabetes generally experience an increase in blood glucose levels. Your blood sugar can also increase when your body is under physical stress.”
29 Apr 2016 Healthline
There is of course good stress, but this aside, how do we deal with stress that is constantly there? This is the kind of stress we call distress. Albert Ellis, the American psychologist who in 1955 developed Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) says “Stress as a symptom is usually anxiety. But it could also be depression. So it is probably either or both”
This anxiety he mentions can be anything from losing a job, not liking a job or manager, having relationship problems, or even simply not managing the diabetes well. What a vicious circle that last source of stress can be for a diabetic!
So for those who do have diabetes, it is crucial to manage stress, in order to manage the condition. There are two key factors in reducing stress: practising coping strategies, and learning to recognise the alarm signals that the body, mind, and nervous system are raising.
Of course, seeking professional help can help to reduce stress levels by teaching strategies and other methodologies for example mindfulness, self-hypnosis, and therapy can help people get to the core reason behind the stress.
For more support please visit my Diabetes support page: Diabetes Support
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