Why Diabetes Mental Health is Important

(P.S. 3 more days of the Early Bird rate!)

It doesn’t take long to realize that diabetes affects more than your pancreas. It affects your entire body, but one part of your body goes unnoticed more than any other:

your mind.

Let me ask you this: when was the last time your healthcare provider asked you about the impact of diabetes on your mental health? Have you ever been given an assessment for it? Did you even know assessments exist for diabetes mental health?

According to a survey on diabetes and mental health, which has been completed by 115 people (103 PWDs and 12 parents), 78.3% of people were not asked about their mental health at their last diabetes medical appointment. And 69.6% of people said they didn’t talk about their mental health at all during the appointment. Of the remaining, 22.6% said they only talked about it because they brought it up, and 8% were from a combination of the provider asking about it or because of an assessment that was filled out.

Diabetes mental health is simply not talked about enough at our doctors appointments, so it’s no wonder that so many people struggle with the emotional and psychosocial aspects.

We know that diabetes is stressful, relentless, and unpredictable.

We know that it impacts every aspect of our day.

But coping with that seems to fall to the wayside when it comes to managing diabetes, with providers predominately focused on making adjustments to basal rates or telling us to “just try harder.”

This is the foundation of everything that I do. It’s why I became a licensed therapist, it’s why I’m a coach, and it’s why I co-founded the Diabetes + Mental Health Conference.

Depending on who you are, mental health support can look like a lot of things.

For some people, it is a diagnosis and treatment plan from a licensed provider, to treat clinical levels of depression or anxiety, or trauma or eating disorders.

For other people, it’s having compassionate support and accountability with behavior change to improve resiliency and confidence, which is something coaching can help with.

And for others still, having camaraderie, affirmation and education is what’s needed, and that’s what the Diabetes + Mental Health Conference can provide, as well as other diabetes support groups and events that happen around the country.

It’s time to make the mental aspect of diabetes management part of the conversation that you have with your provider. We know the research is there. But the translation from research journals to patient appointments needs a lot of work.

Come be part of the conversation at this year’s conference.

Our early bird registration ends this weekend, with prices increasing on Monday. Our conference has some amazing sessions on identity, relationships, boundaries, ADHD + diabetes, and trauma, and more! Our keynote speaker is with Dr. Mark Heyman, and our keynote panel will be discussing the emotional toll of shame and stigma, something that research shows affects 79% of T1Ds and 70% of insulin-using T2Ds.

Can’t wait to see you there!