Coping with diabetes and stress

When you have diabetes, stress can significantly affect your ability to control the disease. If you are under stress, you may skip meals or forget to take your medicines, which will affect your blood sugar level. Learning to deal with this stress is especially important if you have diabetes.

Although you cannot completely remove stress from your life, there are several ways you can reduce it. And by learning to better cope with stress, you can help keep your diabetes under control. Here are some tips.

Fight stress with a positive attitude

When things seem to be going wrong, it is always easier to see the bad instead of the good. Find something good in each important area of your life: work, family, friends and health. Thinking about the good can help you get through the bad times and the stress.

Be nice to yourself

What are your talents, abilities and goals? Are you expecting too much from yourself? Don't expect more of yourself than you have or are able to give.

Accept what you cannot change

For those stressful situations or problems that cannot be changed, develop a simple plan of action. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Will this be important in two years' time?
• Do I have control over this situation?
• Can I change my situation?

Talk to Someone About Your Stress

Don't keep stress bottled up inside. If you don't want to talk with a family member or close friend, ask your doctor to refer you to a trained counsellor.

Exercise to fight stress

The benefits of exercise in reducing stress are well known, particularly for someone with diabetes. Exercise gives you a feeling of well-being and may relieve symptoms of stress.

Take time to relax

Practise muscle relaxation, deep breathing, meditation or visualisation. Ask your doctor for further information.