3 Helpful Strategies for Anyone Struggling with Diabetes

At Clifton Foot & Ankle Center, we’ve been thinking about Mental Health Awareness Month, especially as it relates to our patients with diabetes. We’re aware of the challenges our diabetic patients confront on a daily basis.
People usually think of diabetes as a disease with physical manifestations: low blood sugar, high blood sugar, poor eyesight, erectile dysfunction, kidney disease, and foot problems such as numbness, tingling, and poor healing. Those are all real and true.
Just as real and true, however, are the effects of diabetes on our mental health. People don’t always acknowledge how much having a chronic disease can wear them down mentally. Injecting insulin can be a drag. It’s tiring when you feel like you’re doing everything right, but your blood sugar levels are still out of whack. If you’re a child, you can grow weary of leaving class to have the school nurse check you out.
The mental challenges are the same whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
Having concrete strategies to combat feelings of helplessness, anger, and frustration can help.
Here are three suggestions that have helped others manage this chronic disease:
- Share your feelings with trusted family members or friends. Saying “I feel frustrated” acknowledges how you feel and offers a loved one an opportunity to help. Together, you may develop strategies that help you feel more in control. For example, you could enlist someone to help you manage your medications, make doctor appointments, or exercise with you.
- Stay informed. Information is power, so learn all you can about your disease. Take a diabetes education class or join a support group at the Fairfax County Diabetes Center. Talk with your primary care provider and create a plan that attacks your concerns head-on.
- Break down large goals into specific, smaller steps. Instead of a vague desire to “lose weight,” try instead to “lose 5 pounds this month.”
Board-certified podiatrist Kenneth R. Wilhelm, DPM, cares about your diabetes concerns. He can help educate and guide you on the best foot care practices, and help you break down your foot care goals into manageable steps. Monitor your feet daily for any changes and make an appointment with Dr. Wilhelm at least once a year – more often if you’re having a problem. Contact us online or call our office in Centreville, Virginia, at (703) 996-3000.