Support groups

Diabetes can affect emotions in a direct or indirect way. Poor control of your blood sugar can make you more irritable. You may also feel different from other people because of your condition, and you may also feel resentful as a consequence. You have to adapt your daily life to diabetes planning.

As a person with diabetes you have an increased risk of depression and anxiety, and that is why your healthcare team may include a social worker or even a psychologist.

You may find it useful to talk to other people suffering from diabetes. There are support groups organized both online and in person. Even if you may not feel eager to join one or you think you are not a kind of person who can enjoy being part of it, consider that they can be good sources of information. People in support groups know about the latest treatments, and can share their own experience or other kinds of helpful practical information (i.e. carbohydrate counts for your favorite takeout restaurant).

SUPPORT GROUP: A group of people who share a similar problem or concern. The people in the group help one another by sharing experiences, knowledge, and information

In a support group, if you just found out you have diabetes you can learn from people who have lived with it for long time. You can talk about it and share how you deal with it. You may even talk about how you take care of your health, how you prepare food, and which kind of physical activities you do. Family members are also welcome, even if they do not have diabetes. This can help them to understand your situation, and how to better help you.

Ask your doctor if they are aware of a local support group you may join!

It can help to talk with other people who have problems like your own.

Strategies to deal with negative emotions

You have to deal with diabetes every day for the whole day. This can impact your emotional well-being, stress and negative emotions can even affect your blood glucose control. There are some strategies that can help you deal with negative emotions, to communicate with your loved ones, and to find support and any kind of help you may need.

  1. Beating the Winter Blues by Lynne Spevack, LCSW
  2. Coping With Diabetes Over Time Laura Hieronymus, MSEd, BC-ADM, CDE, and Kristina Humphries, MD
  3. Creating New Holiday Traditions by Robert Taibbi, LCSW
  4. Demystifying Motivation by Rita Milios, LCSW
  5. Depression by Paula M. Trief, PhD
  6. Diabetes and Your Marriage by Paula M. Trief, PhD
  7. Diabetes Blogs by Allison Blass
  8. Eight Tips For Managing Diabetes Distress by Lawrence Fisher, PhD
  9. Handling Holiday Stress by Linda Wasmer Andrews
  10. Learning Self-Compassion by Nicola J. Davies, PhD
  11. Navigating Mental Health Care by Joseph B. Nelson, MA, LP
  12. Relaxation Techniques for Stressful Times by Linda Wasmer Andrews
  13. Stress: Finding Peace Amid the Storm by Laura Hieronymus, MSEd, APRN, BC-ADM, CDE, and Patti Geil, MS, RD, CDE
  14. Taking a Zen Approach to Diabetes by Glenn M. Callaghan, PhD
  15. The Importance of Role Models by Amy Mercer
  16. The Secret to Solving Relationship Problems by Robert Taibbi, LCSW
  17. Updating Your Coping Skills by Reji Mathew, PhD
  18. Whose Diabetes Is It, Anyway? by Scott Coulter, LSW
  19. Yoga by Susan Shaw