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Do anxiety and Type 1 go hand in hand?

rmsells

rmsells

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hello everyone,
I have never posted on a forum before but have reached a point in my life where hearing from some other type 1's may be helpful, someone who may understand what I am going through.
I was born in the UK but now live in the US. I was diagnosed as type 1 27 years ago. I have found that as i get older my anxiety about my diabetes has increased (mainly about low blood sugar). I am terrified of unfamiliar situations and really don't want to venture out of my comfort zone. I am really worried that my blood sugar will drop low and I won't be able to stop it. For instance, my husband wants to go to a theme park this weekend, about three hours drive from where we live. The thought of going almost makes me sick with worry. How do you tell someone you love that you would do anything to make them happy but this one little thing that they want to do scares you to your core? How do you make someone understand that although you know this fear may be irrational, you can't just ignore it and tell yourself that it will be all right. How do you explain that the minute you leave your familiar house you will be consumed with worry until the time you can get back to that familiar house?

Diabetes should not rule your life but it certainly rules mine and I am tired of it. Need some help from someone who may have experienced this.......
 
Hi rmsells, welcome to the forum. Constant hypos and highs used to be a massive problem for me. Thankfully, I have found a solution which makes life so much easier. It sounds counterintuitive, but the best thing I have ever done for my type 1 diabetes is to adopt a low carbohydrate diet. Go to YouTube and search for Dr Troy Stapleton. He is an Australian doctor who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2012. He talks about his taking up low carbohydrate eating and how it has dramatically improved his control.
 
Would your insurance fund an insulin pump for you? The pump gives you much more control over your diabetes and if you could get a cgm, even better.
 
Charles Robin said:
Hi rmsells, welcome to the forum. Constant hypos and highs used to be a massive problem for me. Thankfully, I have found a solution which makes life so much easier. It sounds counterintuitive, but the best thing I have ever done for my type 1 diabetes is to adopt a low carbohydrate diet. Go to YouTube and search for Dr Troy Stapleton. He is an Australian doctor who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2012. He talks about his taking up low carbohydrate eating and how it has dramatically improved his control.
Click to expand...
Thank you Charles Robin. Its not so much that i suffer too much from constant hypos and highs but more the fear of the possibility of hypos but thank you for your advice.
 
dancer said:
Would your insurance fund an insulin pump for you? The pump gives you much more control over your diabetes and if you could get a cgm, even better.
Click to expand...
Thanks dancer. I am not sure about the insulin pump, I have always been a little unsure of switching to one. Excuse my ignorance but what is a cgm?
 
Yes, here's the bad news: people with diabetes often have anxiety disorders.

Now here's the good news: people with diabetes who have anxiety disorders are more likely to have good glycemic control.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/26/6/1841.long

Ain't that a thing!

Now, seriously, I think you need to ask your doctor to send you on a DAFNE course. They will teach you loads of stuff that will help you to keep control under varying situations and you will feel much more able to cope, and you will actually be much more able to cope.

(I love that anxiety thing. I literally think, "Oh God, I'm always thinking about this thing." Then I think, "Hey, but it's good that I'm always thinking about it because that's why I've got it under control" and then I go off and do something more interesting.

Whoops! You live in the U.S. So no DAFNE course. Perhaps buy Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner. Very helpful and confidence-inspiring book.
 
RuthW said:
Yes, here's the bad news: people with diabetes often have anxiety disorders.

Now here's the good news: people with diabetes who have anxiety disorders are more likely to have good glycemic control.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/26/6/1841.long

Ain't that a thing!

Now, seriously, I think you need to ask your doctor to send you on a DAFNE course. They will teach you loads of stuff that will help you to keep control under varying situations and you will feel much more able to cope, and you will actually be much more able to cope.

(I love that anxiety thing. I literally think, "Oh God, I'm always thinking about this thing." Then I think, "Hey, but it's good that I'm always thinking about it because that's why I've got it under control" and then I go off and do something more interesting.
Click to expand...
Thanks RuthW, I have never heard of a DAFNE course but will mention it to my doctor. While I am glad that I do not ignore my diabetes and realize that it is an important part of my life, I would like to be able to enjoy a fun day out with my husband which out the constant anxiety and feeling of being out of control.
 
you are not on your own, i have had hypo's and this terrified me to the point i stopped taking my insulin properly, i didnt see my dn either but in the end i couldnt cope anymore and mad an appointment, i now see a different dn and she has been great, we have spoke in length about hypo's and this is what she said, alot of people are frightened of them than hyper's because they think this is the more dangerous one, but actually its not, its the other way around, i have since done a lot of research and i see my dn twice a month as my bs are not well controlled as i have pancreatic diabetes, try to research and read up, be honest about your fears to your nearest and dearest and keep the things you need for any diabetic issues with you, do a longer distance each time before your trip if you can and build up slowly, i am sure they would understand if you explained your fears. good luck x
 
Anyone can develop an anxiety disorder during their life... I have always had a certain level of anxiety, which ramped up a few years ago after a series of very stressful events.

I suggest you see your doctor and ask for a referral to a good therapist, as they have strategies they can teach you that can help you manage and reduce your anxiety. There is also good research evidence supporting the use of medications like SSRIs to treat anxiety, but obviously this is something for you to consider carefully and discuss with your doctor, as they all have benefits and risks.

Don't be afraid to tell your husband about your anxiety, this would enable him to better understand your feelings and choices.
 
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