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Diabetes therapy

Ashleighrose414

Member
Messages
17
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Was wondering if anyone has any experience with diabetes specific therapy?

I've been diabetic a long time so not like the learning to live with diabetes therapy but more specific therapy for dealing with diabetes related anxiety and depression? I've seen a few regular therapists and while I do find them helpful, I often become frustrated that a lot of my issues are directly linked to my condition, and it is obviously something most therapist aren't aware of or trained in.

I would say my main issues are obviously burnout, and coming to terms with chronic illness at this point where I am starting to suffer from comorbidity due to diabetes, anxiety around hypos and general health anxiety related to being hyper aware of looking after myself due to diabetes.

I would also be interested to know if anyone was able to access this through the NHS, or if its only private.
 
Hi @Ashleighrose414

I think @zand has had counselling on the NHS, so have tagged him. Apologies @zand if I've got this wrong.

In the meantime, am sending you lots of virtual hugs. Diabetes can seem relentless as we never get a day off from it.

Have you asked about this when you go for your check ups for diabetes?
 
I found a lot of help from MIND. I have found that forums of people who are coping with the same or similar issues is helpful and people understand and support each other.

I gave up on the NHS after 2 1/2 years of waiting for a referral. Their services are so overstretched and underfunded as to be almost not there, which must be hard for people needing them and those who work in the NHS mental health services.
 
Thanks for the tag. Yes I had 8 counselling sessions arranged by the NHS for which I had to pay a contribution. I had a further 21 sessions with the same counsellor. However this wasn't re my T2, this was to deal with PTSD and depression re things that occurred before I was 7 years old.

I think @Fenn has had some sort of diabetic counselling though. He may be able to help.
 
Hi, Thankyou Zand

I am currently having therapy from a psychologist specialising in diabetes, I hold this lady in such high esteem I have no doubt she could help you but I’m sure as always these things seem to be a post code lottery, I would ask your endo as mine was who referred me, we were having a telephone consultation where I was basically saying “I give up” when he asked how I was doing, I’m not sure if he took that for suicidal but I am not or never been that, I was Just fed up with my terrible diabetes control, I tried to say no to the doctor but he convinced me to have a chat with her, then I tried to convince her she was wasting her time on me as I neither needed it or would be helped from it (typical man/builder type meat head) I was so wrong and the angel who is pretending to be a human psychologist has changed my life, literally. My eating habits, my diabetes and my life in general. I went to see my doctor Tuesday and he said they all talk about me, my control of my numbers is unbelievable. They credit my will power but I 100% know it is the therapy, also low carb eating but the therapy has made that possible or even easy.


looking back I suppose I had depression (if depression is the feeling of falling into a black hole with no way of stopping myself or even slowing my decent?) and I know I had anxiety although that’s a hard thing to admit for me, I had a terrible fear of hypos, had a few at work which freaked me out, I would therefore not inject novo during the day, never do adjustment injections so generally run very high all day, I would only inject for evening meals when I had the time to devote to watching for hypos.

sorry for the life story, just to say yes there are people out there, I got this on the NHS, the trick is getting your doctor to refer you I guess and in my case accepting the help. Very best of luck, let us know how you get on.
 
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Fenn said:
sorry for the life story, just to say yes there are people out there, I got this on the NHS, the trick is getting your doctor to refer you I guess and in my case accepting the help. Very best of luck, let us know how you get on.
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Please don't apologise for posting background information. I think it's so helpful for others to read, and not just the person who asked the initial question.

Just wanted to say a huge well done. You had to be willing to engage with the psychologist for them to be able to help you. Without your hard work, the psychologist could have talked and talked, but nothing would have changed!!
 
Yes, I would suggest the poster tries to find a local MIND branch (not the shops). I do some support for our local MIND and they do a good job with group sessions and one to one counselling although the latter usually has a waiting list.
 
I was referred through the NHS by my team to a psychologist who specialized in diabetes. I only had a couple of months of waiting time but my diabetes team is absolutely wonderful, I've had diabetes since I was 1 though and I've been with the doctor and nurse in the Adult team since I moved over at 18 and I'm now 25 so they've quite literally seen me through all of my ups and downs. I have depression which I think contributed to my diabetes burnout.

I've tried therapy before and absolutely hated every experience I had but something about this psychologist was just different, he was absolutely brilliant with me and although he was primarily there to help with the diabetes side of things he did also help with other areas I was struggling in, he was one of the best therapists I've ever had and I still use some of the tips and trick he taught me to this day and I haven't seen him now for probably 1 1/2 to 2 years. It's definitely not easy to get the help you need especially with someone who is a therapist and also specializes in the disease we are dealing with but if you can get your team to refer you I would 100% go for it. Best decision I ever made.
 
Bit of a late update as for some reason I didn't get notifications that anyone had replied!

I spoke to my Diabetes team as well as a community DSN, both referred me to my local NHS counselling service but after speaking with them they said it seemed that given how much therapy I've already had, the extensive variety of therapies I have tried and the 4 month waiting list for an initial session, it was unlikely they would be able to offer anything that would be beneficial for me, which is obviously frustrating but I'm glad they were honest rather than letting me wait to tell me that.

My diabetes specialist did mention that it was possible to be referred to King's for specific therapy, though she seemed reluctant to do this despite me literally being at my limit in terms of my tolerance for my diabetes. She is also reluctant to refer me for a pump, I'm not sure if that is because of my state of mind or if they just don't want to waste the money on me if im not 'trying' to look after myself.

@Fenn I'm glad you provided some backstory tbh, I also find that im particularly skeptical of therapy and other holistic treatment even though I have a psychology degree and very much understand the benefits, so I'm glad to see that even despite feeling like it wouldn't work, it still did.
 

I find this disgusting. Some people find pumps to be a lifesaver and if what someone's doing isn't working for them, the endo should be encouraging the exploration of other options, not discouraging it.

If you want someone to talk to who was in the worst circles of hell for ten years and figured out how to get out, please feel free to PM me.
 
I just finished 8 sessions with the psychologist attached to my diabetes team, it was great and I strongly recommend. If there is an option of being referred to Kings then push push push for it, not referring you needs a very good reason as you’re so clearly asking for it, and make it clear in the referral that you need treatment for burnout/diabetes distress to negate the issue about having had “too much therapy” (although this can be a valid comment but worth pursuing a specialist referral). If they won’t refer you after having said it’s an option then please make a complaint because you should be offered this life saving care. (I’m a psychologist in the nhs and feel strongly about this can you tell!) the pump I am much less knowledgeable about although worth knowing that I moved from one hospital to another and my first hospital told me I didn’t qualify for a pump and the second one couldn’t get me on a pump fast enough so is it worth changing hospitals?
 
I'm so happy for you that therapy worked so well! I so wish my husband would be willing to do the same and look for some help.

He's been diabetic for a very long time and is now having laser to treat retinopathy. He's been in a very low mood since he learned about the need for the treatment. Now he says he's fed up and doesn't seem to care anymore. He rarely eats, doesn't read his BG and gets angry if I ask about it. He says he can't concentrate on doing his job anymore. He just sits on the couch and stays there all day, sometimes even sleeps there.

I've been so worried about him and so tired of crying in the bathroom to avoid making him feel even worse than he already feels. I usually love Christmas, but this year it definitely hasn't been the most wonderful time of the year.

I apologise for dropping it here. I suppose a psychologist would be great, but can't look for one on his behalf, unfortunately.
 
Fenn said:
looking back I suppose I had depression (if depression is the feeling of falling into a black hole with no way of stopping myself or even slowing my decent?) and I know I had anxiety although that’s a hard thing to admit for me,
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This is exactly how my depression feels to me when it rears it's ugly head. Fortunately I've been able to keep on top of it for a few years now, and recognise the signs to be able to ask for help
 
Hi, I’m sorry to read this, on one hand he’s being selfish but I also understand him, maybe try and talk to him about how terrible his behaviour is making you feel if you haven’t already, it can be hard to see through the self pity. I wish I was smart enough to offer something useful, I hope you find a way to to get him some help and have a great Christmas.
 
Hi! Don't worry. I feel better just to have "talked" about my troubles with someone. I understand him as well. I'd probably be like him if I was the one going through the same. It just saddens me to see him feeling so down. It makes me feel useless not knowing how to help. Anyway, I can just hope for a better future and keep trying to lift his spirits. Have a Merry Christmas, Fenn, and thanks for your reply
 
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