Counselling and Diabetes ?

I would like to ask all people living with diabetes whether they feel that at some point counselling and more emotional support would have been useful to them?
This could have been at diagnosis stage or at any other stage.
I am asking the diabetic community as I have been a type 1 diabetic for 18 years and whilst my local diabetic care team are excellent at helping with the medical side of living with the condition I feel that the psychological and emotional side is ignored and the diabetic nurses often don't have time to offer this. I am a qualified therapeutic counsellor looking to improve the emotional/psychological care for people and start a new project.

sanguine said:

Hi Jess

I can only speak for myself, but I found this forum on the day I was diagnosed, and if I felt I needed any counselling I would get it from the members and virtual friends on here! I suspect that would be true of many/most on the forum, even if you don't participate actively it's good to read about people who are in a similar position to yourself and realise you are far from being alone or unique.

I'm sure you appreciate though that by joining this forum we are already in a small minority of diabetics who are motivated enough not to just lie down and roll over when diagnosed.

Nevertheless I'm equally sure that an impartial counselling service would be of benefit in general - provided it doesn't try to reinforce acceptance of the misguided dietary information that usually comes out of the health service.

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Hi Sanguine,

I really appreciate your feedback. This forum is a brilliant support no doubt I wish I had known about it sooner. What I am trying to achieve is integrating the medical and psychosocial model of care as a standard for people diagnosed with the condition so that if people need counselling they can access it and it is a choice. I laughed at the misguided dietary information as I too have sat in that seat. Unfortunately the dieticians are limited by the NICE guidelines on what advice they can give and in my opinion can only use the food pyramid as there foundation.

Jess

ConradJ said:

I attended a Health Service event run by my area (Aylesbury Vale) Clinical Commissioning Group yesterday at which a Health Professional , John Pimm, discussed the psychological impact of diabetes and the support that should be provided as an integrated part of the diabetes health process.

Interestingly, the level of psychological support to diabetics (locally certainly, nationally I can't recall) was virtually zero until "almost suicidal" and that a trial going on in the south area of the CCG's territory was revealing some excellent results, for example:

• stabilising control
• achieving good HbA1c results
• eating more healthily
• improving levels of activity

If I recall correctly, the trial included all types and demographics and is currently working with over 150 people.

I think many of us - and certainly that's been the case for me - haven't wanted to consider the possibility of needed emotional and psychological support or have declined it, fearing the notion that if you're being seen by a 'qwack' you must be unfit for the real world... and so, we have 'soldiered on' regardless.

However, as I listened to Mr Pimm and the outline of the trial, it became apparent that counselling/emotional/psychotheraputic and CBT type of support is more than the archetypal Hollywood 'patient on couch, therapist in chair' scenario and that forums like this are as much a part of treatment as diet, exercise and medication.

I will ask Mr Pimm if he doesn't mind me sharing his email with you if you wish - you can PM your reply.

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ConradJ said:

I attended a Health Service event run by my area (Aylesbury Vale) Clinical Commissioning Group yesterday at which a Health Professional , John Pimm, discussed the psychological impact of diabetes and the support that should be provided as an integrated part of the diabetes health process.

Interestingly, the level of psychological support to diabetics (locally certainly, nationally I can't recall) was virtually zero until "almost suicidal" and that a trial going on in the south area of the CCG's territory was revealing some excellent results, for example:

• stabilising control
• achieving good HbA1c results
• eating more healthily
• improving levels of activity

If I recall correctly, the trial included all types and demographics and is currently working with over 150 people.

I think many of us - and certainly that's been the case for me - haven't wanted to consider the possibility of needed emotional and psychological support or have declined it, fearing the notion that if you're being seen by a 'qwack' you must be unfit for the real world... and so, we have 'soldiered on' regardless.

However, as I listened to Mr Pimm and the outline of the trial, it became apparent that counselling/emotional/psychotheraputic and CBT type of support is more than the archetypal Hollywood 'patient on couch, therapist in chair' scenario and that forums like this are as much a part of treatment as diet, exercise and medication.

I will ask Mr Pimm if he doesn't mind me sharing his email with you if you wish - you can PM your reply.

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Hi ConradJ

Your post is extremely exciting and I am so grateful you replied giving me this information - Thank you! I would most certainly be interested in contacting Mr. Pimm if he doesn't mind me having his contact details. It makes a refreshing change to learn that I am not the only one actively seeking better psychological care for Diabetic people and their families.
Unfortunately, the view of counselling and therapy holds the stigma that people are unable to cope and there is something wrong with you if its known your accessing such services. I have seen many clients without diabetes holding this view but therapy and counselling can be a positive life changing experience and aims to be what the client wants it to be. I wouldn't have pursued this career avenue if I didn't feel passionate about it.
Everyone's experience is different and counselling celebrates this offering a safe non judgemental environment where people can express feelings or work with very personal difficult issues confidentiality and sensitively.
Having had type 1 diabetes for 18 years and related health complications myself I can identify with you when you say 'soldier on regardless'. I often found the medical profession quick to offer 'good' advice but putting this into practice meant I needed to apply a certain mind set and find motivation and routine that sometimes felt an impossible challenge on top of existing ones. My example of this was when I tried pump therapy almost four years ago when it was relatively new. My local diabetes team choose me out of a range of patients to try it with the hope that my blood glucose control would improve. For me, the experience was nothing more than traumatic as then I needed to invent ways of trying to conceal what I felt was a relatively large piece of technology compared to my body type. As a young self conscious adult wearing the pump meant I had to change the way I liked to dress to conceal the pump. I was embarrassed if anyone saw this tube leading from my stomach to belt on my jeans. It would often come loose fall to the floor and start vibrating at work for the slightest of reasons. I still had to input the rapid acting insulin and enter my blood glucose levels. In the end despite countless discussions with nurses and consultants about how lucky I was to be trying this new therapy I protested that the pump was simply not discreet enough or right for me. Having five injections a day and wearing clothes I wanted to wear made me happier.
If the pump had automatically checked my blood glucose levels and adjusted insulin levels accordingly then I would have been far more motivated to embrace wearing it.
Psychologically there was a massive gap between the medical advantages of the pump to the reality of wearing it each day and not wanting to reveal to the world that I had diabetes. I didn't have anyone to share this experience with who understood and that caused me some anxiety and issues. If counselling had been available to me I could have worked on these anxieties and explored ways of coping with wearing the pump and coming to the decision it wasn't for me more quickly and saved the NHS money and time.

Counselling and therapy isn't for everybody but I feel there needs to be acknowledgement in the medical profession that living with a condition day in day out can be both physically and mentally demanding and naturally as humans life gets in the way and effects this. How we feel about having diabetes, testing blood glucose levels several times a day, taking other medication, attending frequent hospital appointments, dealing with low/high blood glucose levels and being more susceptible to infections, illness, watching the food we eat all impacts on us.

I look forward to hearing more from you
Jess

donnellysdogs said:

I have seen two counsellors in my time. Not for diabetes
First one, (through nhs referral) never mentioned diabetes, although she knew I was diabetic.
2nd one (paid privately) was a tough and direct counsellor. He mentioned diabetes. It can be a bit obvious when hot summer and in vest tshirt and pump on arm). We had a good, very direct talk about my diagnosis and acceptance of it... Always trying to prove that it's no big deal, and how I felt when I almost lost my driving licence etc..
He was so direct, but he picked up on it... The first counsellor didn't. What he said to me was excellent...


I didn't believe diabetes played any major part in my life. It did for a while.. And he pointed this out to me and the impact of being anal about testing rather than as I have always been as relaxed about it all...

I believe the nhs GP's do have some targets for referrals!!-(suprise, suprise) but will have to look them up later..




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Hi There,

Your post is interesting and I appreciate you sharing your experiences of counselling with me.
I admire the fact that you have seen no stigma with therapy and valued it enough to pay privately. Personally I hated wearing the pump as I explained to ConradJ in a post above.
I am relieved to hear your counsellor explored things like acceptance and how embracing blood testing meant commitment from you. I have always struggled with blood testing even though I understand the importance of it.
Every local GP I have spoken to thinks my ideas are a good one and they can think of patients they would refer to a specific service for diabetes.

Thanks for your post!

Jaylee said:

Hi,
Though not diabetes related. I've had experience with two councillors...
T1 since a kid I consider myself adjusted to the life...
However.
The first one was was not my councillor.. I was in a relationship with someone who was In need of help..
She had a "dark history" coupled with drug & alcohol abuse & I suggested she sought professional guidance..
She was also put on a course of anti depressants to which she became addicted to.. Thanks to the NHS.
She point blank refused to go back to the councillor after she alleged a bad experience in one session the "shrink" had suggested "you must get these evil thoughts out of your head", I couldn't believe this & seized my chance when I popped to her surgery for the antiD prescription (she was going through them like smarties.)
I was collared by her shrink (the session was set up at the surgery) who wanted to know why she had skipped her appointment pretty much that morning..
I was ushered into the "suite" set up in the surgery complex & pretty much spent an hour with this professional councillor getting to the bottom of this, while this was going on, my phone rang a few times & I was receiving texts of this girlfriend which I apologised for the interruption but the councillor was interested in taking notes of my messages which I agreed to letting her scroll through my Nokia...

Yes, this session was turning interesting there was a three way assessment going on (one by proxy.)
I came away resolved that the councillor had not done anything inappropriate/ unprofessional & though she did have a Christian belief. Was not guilty of the terminology used in her sessions with the girlfriend..
I also came away from this confirmed in what I was suspecting all along.. I was being manipulated by this girl in an abusive relationship..

After ending the relationship for my own good (my diabetes was suffering.) her parting shot was to bust my rib..
After seeing my GP & Told to hug myself if I cough or sneeze & to lay off the singing... (Yep, that girl knew where to hurt me.)
Feeling depressed by this point that I stood there & allowed someone to do this to me, (i was called a "wimp" for not hitting back.) I then sought professional counselling for myself...

Did it work? Yep, in the sense that it supported the advice my friends were giving me (that I had ignored at the time) was right all along..

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Hello Jaylee,

Wow this is a powerful story thanks for telling me. I guess counselling was a positive experience for you and I am glad you made the right decision for yourself with the relationship Your experience just shows that counselling and therapy can be useful to anyone with or without diabetes!!

Jess

It's an idea I've had and procrastinated over for 4 years during which time I've been counselling clients with substance misuse, mental health issues and various complex issues. It was ironic working with people who chose to inject themselves with substances when I have no choice and would love not to have to do this several times a day!


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Hi there Loudmatthew,

I appreciate your comments. There is a stigma that unfortunately goes with
Counselling. It doesn't mean anything is wrong with you in fact I believe totally opposite. In the context of diabetic counselling it can be an opportunity to draw on personal goals and strengths that can help manage the condition. I think it's normal to get fed up with diabetes at some point during having it! Personally I still hate testing my blood and having to attend so many hospital appointments even though intellect says it's looking after yourself properly. Emotionally I lack motivation at times- I'm only human.
How are you doing with it all so far?


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