Diabetes and Anxiety

Posted by Jade Venhaus on March 26, 2020

In this time of uncertainty, it is more important than ever that we focus on our mental wellbeing. I’m not a doctor, but after living with diabetes for 20 years, I’ve experienced tons of anxiety rollercoasters relating to my diabetes and have found ways to balance my mental state during these difficult times. Here are some of my tools for managing anxious feelings:

1. Focus on What You Can Control

I used to feel anxious about every little thing related to my diabetes. For example, I would eat a meal and constantly think: am I counting my carbs correctly, will this spike my blood sugar, will I over count and go low? The questions I asked myself were endless, and the results were that I wasn’t enjoying my meal or my thoughts. I have learned to focus on what I can control. For me, this meant testing my blood sugar before I ate, pre-blousing, and counting my carbs to the best of my ability. If I did all of those things and I still ended up high/low later, I wouldn’t allow myself to get upset about it. In this time where there are so many things that feel out of control, focus your energy on the things in your life you can control.

2. Be Present

I understand the struggle to keep your mind present. Our minds constantly wander: do I have all of my supplies, enough low snacks, or insulin? I still have nightmares sometimes that I’ve gone on a trip and forgotten my extra supplies. I have found that meditation helps me in my quest to stay present. The mobile meditation app Headspace has really helped me bring my mind to rest and keep me present in times like this. I still occasionally have anxious thoughts, but now instead of being anxious I accept them, acknowledge them, and consciously remind myself to be present in the moment.

3. When in Doubt, Self-love

Let’s be real, controlling anxiety is tough for some people. Even when you try your very best to control what you can and be present, you can still feel anxious. Another tool I have is, when you can’t seem to get your anxious feelings under control, spend time loving yourself. Take a hot bath, put on a face mask, light a candle, call a friend, do some sit-ups, read a book, watch some TV or whatever you feel may put you in a better state of mind.

Many of us feel anxious right now, and I hope these tips will help you to weather this storm. We are in this together. Stay positive friends, & I’m always here for support! 💖