Friday, July 18, 2014

Anxiety and Diabetes

Is there a link between having diabetes and always feeling anxious? Maybe, says the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Of course, plenty of people feel anxious, whether they have diabetes or not. But having the disease adds an extra burden of worry. It can be hard to tell the difference between normal (and even useful) worrying and the kind that indicates a problem.

Additionally, low blood glucose levels can contribute. When blood glucose levels are low, people often say they feel shaky and agitated, which can be embarrassing and even dangerous. Many diabetics can have low glucose anxiety, says the ADA. Preventing lows is important, but so is preventing highs. That's why it's important to maintain stable blood glucose levels.

Here are some tips from the ADA on dealing with anxiety:

Try to picture clearly what worries you. Picture it and describe it to yourself in detail. Sometimes writing it down helps.
Does anything help you manage your worry? Some people find relief in physical exertion or exercise. Others find relief in meditation, prayer or laughter. Some find that making one step toward changing the worry helps. Talking about your worry to a friend or family member may also help. Try different approaches and repeat the ones that work best.
If nothing helps and you can't think of anything that would help, the ADA recommends that you talk to your health-care provider.