Are you asking yourself, "Why me?" Getting used to living with diabetes can be
a challenge, and that's true whether you've just been diagnosed or you've lived with
diabetes for a while.
If You've Just Been Diagnosed
When people are first diagnosed with diabetes, they might be nervous about getting
shots or medical tests and scared about how diabetes will affect their future health.
In the beginning, almost everyone thinks that they will never be able to do the
blood sugar testing or insulin injections they need to stay healthy. But after working
with doctors and learning more about diabetes, these things start feeling like less
of a big deal. Over time, shots and checks can become like brushing teeth or taking
a shower — just another daily routine you do to stay healthy. Eventually, some
people even start to feel pretty good about the fact that they can do all the things
they need to do to manage their diabetes on their own.
It's perfectly normal for people with diabetes to feel sad, angry,
confused, upset, alone, embarrassed, and even jealous.
Dealing With Your Feelings
Here are a few things you can do to cope with the emotional
side of diabetes:
Open up to people you trust. If you feel sad, mad, embarrassed,
or worried, talk about it with a close friend, parent, or doctor. It might be hard
at first to open up, and you may have trouble finding the words to talk about it.
Try to name your feelings and say what's got you feeling that way. Many times, just
telling someone who will listen and understand your feelings can lighten a difficult
emotion and help it to pass. Make it a regular habit to talk about what you're going
through with someone close to you. As time goes on, be sure to notice and talk about
the positive feelings. With time, you may notice that you're feeling more calm and
confident, or that you're proud of what you're learning to do.
Get more support if you need it. If you're having a really tough
time, or if you think you may be depressed,
let an adult know. (Some signs that it might be depression are you're sleeping or
eating all the time or not at all, or you feel sad or angry for long periods.) Sometimes
people need the added support and care of a counselor or a mental health professional.
Your doctor, parent, or another trusted adult can put you in touch with a counselor
or other mental health professional who works with teens that have diabetes. Get all
the support you need and deserve.
Learn how to take care of yourself. When you take good care of
yourself and manage your diabetes, you will probably get sick less often, need fewer
extra shots or tests, and be able to do the same activities as everyone else. When
you can participate and feel well enough to get exercise (which is a great mood booster),
you'll feel better too.
If you're ready to take charge of tracking your blood
sugar levels, adjusting and taking your insulin injections, and taking responsibility
for preparing your meals and snacks, talk to your parents and doctor about how you
can start making these changes. Again, taking charge of these practical tasks can
give you more of a sense of control and power over diabetes. You might begin to feel
proud — even amazed — that you're doing things you didn't think you'd
be able to do.
Tell your teachers about your diabetes. Telling your teachers
that you have diabetes can make things a little easier for you at school — for
example, you might tell your teacher when you'll need to check your blood sugar level
or have a snack each day. That way you can just leave class without drawing extra
attention to yourself. By knowing you have diabetes, your teacher also can be on the
lookout for symptoms of diabetes problems and can call for medical help if you need
it.
If you're not sure how to bring it up on your own or don't know what to say, ask
your doctor to give you a note that covers the basics for your teacher. That can get
the conversation started.
Get organized. There can be a lot to keep track of if you have
diabetes. How much insulin did you take this morning? What did you eat at school?
Did you pack your medicines? Getting organized can help you feel less worried about
how diabetes will affect your health. Every night, check to make sure you have the
snacks and medicines you'll need for the next day. You'll begin to feel prepared and
in charge.
Focus on your strengths. It's easy to get lost in all the negative
ways diabetes affects your world. If you feel like it's taking over your life, it
can help to write down your strengths — and the stuff you love. Who are you?
Are you a reader, a hockey player, a music lover, a math whiz, a spelling champ? Diabetes
is really only a small part of who you are. Keep track of your dreams and hopes, and
find time for the people and things you enjoy.
Stick to the plan. Many people with diabetes get sick of dealing
with it once in a while. And sometimes people who have learned to manage their illness
feel so healthy and strong that they wonder whether they need to keep following their
diabetes management plan. But skipping medicines, veering off the meal plan, or not
checking your blood sugar can have disastrous results. If you feel like throwing in
the towel, talk to your doctor. Together you can find solutions that fit your life
and help you stay healthy too.
Take your time. Your feelings about diabetes will change over
time — today you might feel worried about the future and different from your
friends, but next year you might wonder why you were so upset. As you learn to manage
diabetes on your own and take a more active
role in your health, you may find it's a little easier dealing with the ups and
downs.