Diabetes Can Take a Toll on Your Mental Wellbeing. How To Cope

Diabetes can take a toll on your mental wellbeing. How to cope.

A woman wearing a FreeStyle Libre sensor is showing her glucose data on her smartphone to here significant other.

You’re not alone – many others also feel the stress of managing their chronic condition can affect their mental health². With the right tools and information, you can gain a sense of control.

Understanding diabetes distress

While diabetes distress — the emotional burden of managing the chronic condition²⁰² — is a normal part of the diabetes experience, increased stress can lead to burnout and a decline  in condition management²⁰².

What does diabetes distress look like?

Emotional distress – Feeling overwhelmed by having diabetes
Regimen distress – Feeling stressed about the amount of work involved in proper diabetes management
Healthcare provider distress – Feeling like you are disappointing your healthcare providers if you’re not taking the best care of yourself
Social support distress — Feeling unsupported or alone in managing your chronic condition

Strategies to manage diabetes distress

Listen to your feelings: We all have moments of stress and anxiety, but adding diabetes to the mix can be overwhelming. Experiencing these feelings for more than a week or two could be a sign you need help to feel better²⁰³.

Grab some “me” time: Take a break from what you’re doing and choose something that helps you recharge, like going outside, reading a book or watching your favourite show²⁰⁴.
Monitor your levels: Anxiety or stress can feel like low glucose levels and vice versa, which can make management of both a challenge²⁰⁴. Regularly checking your glucose levels  with your FreeStyle Libre system(s) can help you stay in target range, feel better and reclaim a sense of control^10,206.
Get active: Choose your favourite activity – even a short walk can have a calming effect that lasts hours²⁰⁴.
Seek support: Talk with your healthcare team about your feelings so they can help problem solve and refer you to another care provider if needed. Speaking with others living with diabetes can also be a key support tool and Diabetes Canada has virtual support groups available²⁰⁵.

Our commitment to you

We want to help you better manage the mental and emotional impacts of diabetes.

Knowledge is power 

Our FreeStyle Libre systems remove the mystery from your diabetes management by letting you conveniently check your glucose²⁰⁷, giving you the information to better manage your condition  and regain a sense of control²⁰⁶.

Information and support 

We’re working with diabetes experts to raise awareness of the impact diabetes can have on your mental health and emotional wellbeing.

For more information and support on diabetes and mental wellbeing, consider the following resources:

Diabetes Canada: Distressed by Diabetes

DiabetesDistress.org:
Diabetes Distress Assessment

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