Our bodies and minds are strongly connected, and what we feel in one affects the other. Think of how a headache can make you feel cranky, or how your heart beats faster when you feel excited.
For anyone living with diabetes, being aware of this connection is especially important, as your blood glucose levels and mood influence each other.
The relationship between your mind and your body is a two-way street. Your blood glucose levels can have a major impact on your emotions and how you feel. And your emotions can have a big impact on your blood glucose levels.
Sometimes the reasons for your moods will be easy to recognise, and sometimes they will be harder to spot. Learning to pay attention to the signs your body is giving you can help you better manage both your diabetes and your moods.
Mood changes can be very confusing and frustrating, especially if we cannot see a clear reason why we are feeling a certain way. A change in mood can be caused by many things, and for people living with diabetes, stress and blood glucose levels can play a large role.
When we feel under stress, our bodies release stress hormones – adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones stimulate your liver and muscles to release glucose into your blood stream, which in turn, gives you the extra energy to stay and fight, or run away.
When you have diabetes it can be hard for this extra glucose to get into your cells, and instead can cause a rise in your blood glucose levels. When you feel stressed or anxious for any length of time, those levels can become hard to manage.
Likewise, any ups and downs in your blood glucose levels can be stressful events in themselves which, in turn, can affect your mood.
The mind-body connection goes both ways. Managing your diabetes can help your mental health and looking after your mental health is a key part of your diabetes care.
This section gives an overview of the some of the common signs that people with diabetes have said can help them understand and manage their mental health alongside their physical health.
Some of these will be familiar, but even if they are not, you can still benefit from the techniques and tips covered in When to get support.
Most people with diabetes feel upset, angry or overwhelmed at times. It can often be difficult and worrying to manage – especially when you are first diagnosed or when you are dealing with a serious emotional or physical challenge in your life. Knowing that these feelings are normal can help them be less stressful to manage. The important thing is to take care of yourself by recognising what your body is telling you and reminding yourself of what is in your control.
Is your body trying to tell you that you are under too much stress? Here are some of the signs to look out for:
If these signs feel familiar, you may like to learn more about stress and anxiety here.
We all feel down at different times. But when you experience the following signs for an extended period, it is a good idea to get some help:
If these signs feel familiar, you may like to learn more about feeling down and depressed here.
Feeling anxious is not always a bad thing. It can help motivate us to perform better and to respond quickly. But it is important to make sure the following signs do not become ongoing or overwhelming:
If these signs feel familiar, you may like to learn more about stress and anxiety here. If you notice this happening when you think about something specific like needles, hypoglycaemic events or the possibility of diabetes-related complications, you may like to learn more about worries and fears here.
Feeling overwhelmed can trigger diabetes distress and burnout for anyone with diabetes. Here are some of the common signs to look out for:
If these signs feel familiar, you may like to learn more about diabetes distress and burnout here.
If your emotions or mood changes are become overwhelming, are stopping you from effectively taking care of your diabetes, or you would just like some extra help to cope, there are a range of support services available to you.
As a starting point you might like to explore free resources available through Black Dog Institute, Beyond Blue or any of the other organisations listed in the support services page. Head to Health (1800 595 212) is a free service which can also help you navigate your options and find which local services and supports might be right for you.
Counsellors, psychologists or other mental health professionals may also be a good option. You do not need to be at a ‘breaking point’ or very unwell to see them – they can help you develop skills and tools proactively to address things before they become a problem. And, if you are eligible, your GP can help you access 10 Medicare-subsidised sessions per year through a mental health plan.
Find more resources, programs and peer support from across NDSS. For young people, our Diabetes Youth Zone is a go-to guide with useful resources, tips and advice for managing diabetes with confidence.
Most people with diabetes manage well most of the time. But it is okay to acknowledge if you are struggling. Many people benefit from specialist emotional support from a psychologist.
A diagnosis of diabetes can come as a shock. First reactions may be disbelief, sadness, anger or self-blame. Usually, these feelings ease after a while and diabetes becomes part of life.
