Managing the stress of type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes isn’t easy.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) can touch every part of your life, and it requires your constant attention. The impact this can have on your social and emotional health is very real. Living with T1D can increase feelings of depression, anxiety, and diabetes burnout. Learning how to cope with the stress of type 1 diabetes is just as important as managing your blood-glucose levels.
Resilience
Taking care of your mental health starts with embracing a resilient mindset.
Resilience is the ability to overcome challenges, keep trying when life gets hard, and get back up when you feel knocked down by any situation or circumstance. Embracing a resilient mindset means you remind yourself every day that life is challenging for everyone, and you’ll do your best to keep going.
Diabetes management comes with many little moments that feel frustrating, defeating, impossible, and discouraging. Your resilient mindset can help you reach for the encouragement to keep going instead of giving up.
Some people have a natural resilience that allows them to productively cope, or even thrive, in the face of stress. But the good news is this is not a fixed trait—anyone can build their resilience!
Building resilience is a combination of harnessing your unique individual strengths and utilizing the external assets and support systems around you.
Get support
Don’t hesitate to lean on those around you and utilize the tools available to you for support.
Family
Give your partner, siblings, or parents specific ways they can be supportive.
Colleagues
Teach your team at work a little bit about your diabetes.
Psychologists and therapists
Talk to a professional to help lighten the mental weight of T1D.
Clinicians
Tell your diabetes care team if you’re struggling—they will have resources to help.
Medications
There is no shame in getting support from medications to help with anxiety and depression—talk to your healthcare team about your options.
Words matter
The way you (and those around you) talk about diabetes can make a big difference in your mental health. (This includes how you talk to yourself about diabetes, too.)
Many people in your life probably want to support you, just as you support them. Let them in—but guide them, too. Teach them how to be the support you need.
Sometimes, we have to teach our friends and family how to use positive and encouraging language. Even comments from friends, family, or doctors with the best intentions can feel like judgment or disappointment. Here are a few examples you can share with your support team:
| Critical | Supportive |
|---|---|
| “Your blood-glucose levels are too high. You need to take better care of yourself.” | “I know that managing your blood sugar is hard work. Is there anything I can do to help?” |
| “If you don’t get your blood sugar under control now, you’ll be a lot worse off later on.” | “What can I do now to support your diabetes management goals?” |
| “Cheer up, your diabetes could be much worse.” | “If you want to talk about anything or simply need to vent, I am here to listen.” |
Technology for easier T1D management
Today’s technology can also help make managing the stress of type 1 diabetes a little easier. Talk to your healthcare team about the following options:
Automated insulin delivery systems and insulin pumps
Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems involve specialized insulin pumps with CGMs that communicate with each other to automatically adjust insulin doses throughout the day. For many, AID systems can improve blood-glucose levels and decrease the daily stress of T1D management.
Insulin pumps are small, wearable devices programmed with individualized settings to deliver insulin into the body at numerous intervals throughout the day and night. They are used in place of multiple daily injections (MDI) of insulin.
Continuous glucose monitors (CGM)
Anyone living with T1D should be offered a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to improve daily safety and the ability to reach blood- glucose targets. Today’s CGM technology is easy to learn and very comfortable to wear for any age.
Smart insulin pens and pen caps
Smart insulin pens and pen caps are devices used to track insulin doses for people who use insulin pens to take multiple daily injections (MDI) of insulin
More mental health guidance
Understanding the difference between these mental health concerns
Take action to make sleep a priority
Tips on seeking out help
Breakthrough T1D Community Forum
Connect with people all over the world who are living with T1D to share experiences and get support.
