Living with type one diabetes and studying medicine-stress and depression

[Fairygodmother]

Hi @michellejl, having lived with T1 for quite a while I can totally sympathise with the depression that the T1 beast plus hard studying can create. Lots of students find there are times when the sheer onslaught of completing assignments, practicals, work experience and all the deadlines becomes too much.
Do you have any moments when you can take a break, breathe fresh air, do something that makes you focus on something else? Do you have people who’d join you for a good long walk, a silly game, a comedy fest?
As many of the others have said, there may be some help available at the Uni. Opening up to any empathetic colleagues may also share your current load.
Do get back to us and let us know how you’re doing,
Hugs. And some more hugs to put by for when you need them.

 

[michellejl]

Hi Michelle, I'm sorry that you are feeling so low.
Universities (at least in the UK) have confidential medical services for students. You may have already contacted yours but, if not, it will be worth a go.

I wrote my univeristy today and asked them if they are providing any kinds of physcatric services so Im hoping to hear from them soon! Thank you!

 

[michellejl]

Hi @michellejl, having lived with T1 for quite a while I can totally sympathise with the depression that the T1 beast plus hard studying can create. Lots of students find there are times when the sheer onslaught of completing assignments, practicals, work experience and all the deadlines becomes too much.
Do you have any moments when you can take a break, breathe fresh air, do something that makes you focus on something else? Do you have people who’d join you for a good long walk, a silly game, a comedy fest?
As many of the others have said, there may be some help available at the Uni. Opening up to any empathetic colleagues may also share your current load.
Do get back to us and let us know how you’re doing,
Hugs. And some more hugs to put by for when you need them.

Thank you so much for your reply! <3 I am still struggling because the workload is so much this semester(worst it has ever been so far), and I have also been having a hard time moving to a different country alone and having to be so responsible for eveything and it just feels like I have a lot of pressure on me... But I have been trying to go out for walks more and that helps a lot! Also calling my family at home more often helps with the stress and anxiety. But my blood sugar is so irregular right now and it is very frustrating... Do you have any good breakfast tip for maintaining a good glucose level after breakfast? I have a hard time with that...

 

[michellejl]

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

Are you living away from home studying? This can feel a bit isolated if you left people like good friends behind to study elsewhere.
Higher BGs can also be a catalyst with negative thoughts. How is your general management?

Yes I am in a new country studying(before its been mostly online but now that covid has reduced we are back in the country of the university full time now).. So I am also feeling very lonely at the moment and dont feel I have a lot of people around me that I can talk too, so thats how I found this website My general managment is good but now since I started the new semester again my blood sugar is very irregular and I have a hard time to get controll over it since it seems to do whatever it wants regardless of how much I plan and eat right etc, very frustrating... But Im trying to take it day by day and see if maybe I can reduce my stress levels(cortisol etc) maybe I can keep it more manageble, but that is easier said than done!

 

[michellejl]

medicine is such a difficult field to study that anyone will have stress even without diabetes. I hope you're going to be okay. Don't take your mental health lightly, depression is a disease, not just sadness, and it's better for a doctor to deal with it with any disease (well, you know that without me, if you study medicine). Mental hugs to you from me! You're cool for not giving up!

Thank you so much! Means a lot to read this<3

 

[michellejl]

Whilst I didn’t study medicine I did study whilst having diabetes and depression. Both mixed together with the stress of studying/exams/written assignments was probably one of the hardest periods of my life. Everything combined together just made life very overwhelming, in the end my diabetes did suffer and I ended up with a very poor Hba1c. Not sure how your diabetes control is but poor control can definitely lower your overall mood.

A couple of things helped me, I firstly let my teachers know that I was struggling and I was given extra time/help and was referred to the schools medical services for any other assistance. Most universities will be very understanding especially as studying is stressful and having medical conditions to contend with as well isn’t helpful. I also spoke to my doctors/nurses and explained I was struggling, they were extremely helpful and referred me to a diabetes psychologist although even just a general psychologist would be good, the amount of help they gave me to be able to cope with both my diabetes and studying was amazing and even though it’s now been a couple of years since I seen my psychologist I still use some of their tips/tricks to this day.

You’re doing the right thing by firstly admitting you are struggling and need help and that’s a big first step for anyone with mental health struggles. It does get better and you will find ways to cope and live with everything that life throws at you, it’s definitely not easy and I really do sympathise as I’ve struggled for years with mental health and diabetes. Don’t be afraid to take breaks where you need them.

Oh wow, thank you for this! I really needed to hear that, I have been for a long time closing my eyes to what I have been feeling, but in the long run as you said it is my health that is suffering the most.. So I am very happy that I finally came to peace with it and now all I want is to get better and be healthier and happier!

 

[michellejl]

Maybe in time we will have a reply from Michellejl. After the different advice that has been given it will be her own decision in the end.

Yes I hear your concern! But I want to become a doctor so I one day can do research in diabetes type 1, thats why Im doing this, because its something I love and I really care about! I know plenty of doctors Ive met and nurses who have diabetes type one so it is eveything but impossible! All I wanted from my post was some tips beacuse of course it is hard like most things in life you have to work for them, and I am more than willing

 

[michellejl]

Exactly.
So if medicine is what she wants to pursue, why would you keep telling her it's not for her?
I'm finding it quite uncomfortable how you keep suggesting her chosen study isn't the right choice for her. Maybe it isn't and maybe it is, there is no way for us to know.

Her question was on how others cope with the dual stress of diabetes and a demanding study, she didn't ask if she should stop her study, like you feel she should do.

In my country, we have advisors at university who's job is to talk with students who are having problems in study and life, which is often connected.
My friend is such an advisor, and she has regular chats with some of the students at the university she works at.
The issues are wide n range, going from housing problems interfering with studying to students with a depression, and from having a hard time planning and organising studying because of adhd to needing a hand on how to cope with group projects while also being on the autism spectrum.
A struggling student with diabetes and mental health issues would be a perfect candidate for her to have a chat with and see how things could be made better to manage.

Can you find out if your university has someone like that?
I have no idea if this is usual in other countries.

Thank you! I just emailed my univeristy and asked about this so I hope they will get back to me soon, its good to know that there are solutions and it will get better, again, thank you

 

[Antje77]

Thank you! I just emailed my univeristy and asked about this so I hope they will get back to me soon, its good to know that there are solutions and it will get better, again, thank you

That's great, I have my fingers crossed they'll have something to help you and other struggling students find their way!
Let us know how you get on, and don't hesitate to come on the forum to vent if you need to.

Wish you all the best, hopefully things will settle a bit more for you shortly.

 

[Member34835]

And even after qualifying you would still have the stress of Type 1 and in medicine as well.(You do not say which branch of medicine). So time to sit down really and decide what you want to really do.Look after yourself or struggle on and on.Nobody can really ever look after other people until they decide to love themselves first otherwise I think it could be too much of a sacrife.

Sorry but I think that if the OP can cope with t1 diabetes then they will be very good at emphathising with other people with chronic medical conditions. Plenty of us live full lives and take care of our diabetes without taking such a defeatist attitude. I totally agree that we have to look after ourselves first and foremost though!

 

[Member34835]

Hello! I have been studying medicine for 2 years now and I the last year have been struggeling with my mental health togeheter with living with diabetes and studying... Is there anyone else out there who would like to chat and discuss how you cope with it.. it would be very helpful, I just feel so lonely and stressed and I feel like no one understands...

I hope you are feeling better after reaching out? Not a medic but know it is well known to be the condition that demands the most of the patient and yes it does feel rather lonely on top of the pressure of a demanding university course.
I just wanted to give you a virtual hug and reference Dr Keith Runyan (diagnosed during medical studies I think) and the very practical guide to type 1

The Ketogenic Diet for Type 1 Diabetes: Reduce Your HbA1c and Avoid Diabetic Complications : Davis MS, Ellen, Runyan MD, Keith: Amazon.co.uk: Books

The Ketogenic Diet for Type 1 Diabetes: Reduce Your HbA1c and Avoid Diabetic Complications : Davis MS, Ellen, Runyan MD, Keith: Amazon.co.uk: Books

www.amazon.co.uk

Amazon.co.uk : bright spots and landmines book

 

[Jaylee]

Yes I am in a new country studying(before its been mostly online but now that covid has reduced we are back in the country of the university full time now).. So I am also feeling very lonely at the moment and dont feel I have a lot of people around me that I can talk too, so thats how I found this website My general managment is good but now since I started the new semester again my blood sugar is very irregular and I have a hard time to get controll over it since it seems to do whatever it wants regardless of how much I plan and eat right etc, very frustrating... But Im trying to take it day by day and see if maybe I can reduce my stress levels(cortisol etc) maybe I can keep it more manageble, but that is easier said than done!

Hi,

You got my best wishes for the future.

I kinda get it. Back in my day there was no mobile phones & video chat.? (Well, there was mobile phones but they were expensive housebricks with a battery life of minutes.)
I was only technically couple of hours drive from home, but at the time I’d ditched a lot of people to study something I was passionate about.

Funny enough my liver likes to help me out & push my levels up on the “day job?” Oddly, the stuff I still do with a passion. Seems to keep my BGs in check??

My advice would be find friends whilst studying. Enjoy their company. But don’t let them distract you too much.

You will be fantastic.

 

[Aishia]

All the best t o you anyway. It was my fault for a minute in thinking if you could cope with it or not,I was just thinking about what happened to my daughter
.She started a psychology degree . She was so unhappy after a while. It turned out she really just did not like the course.So I did not judge her when she left. And my late husband was adviced(no really told)by a teacher at school that he was too clever to go to art college, which was what he really wanted. So he just listened to the teacher and then did a degree that he had o interest in really and his parent insisted that he should still do it.
So glad really that is what you really want do do.

 

[Aishia]

So sometimas everybody judges tthings from their own experiences.

 

[Antje77]

All the best t o you anyway. It was my fault for a minute in thinking if you could cope with it or not,I was just thinking about what happened to my daughter
.She started a psychology degree . She was so unhappy after a while. It turned out she really just did not like the course.So I did not judge her when she left. And my late husband was adviced(no really told)by a teacher at school that he was too clever to go to art college, which was what he really wanted. So he just listened to the teacher and then did a degree that he had o interest in really and his parent insisted that he should still do it.
So glad really that is what you really want do do.

Ah, your posts make more sense now, coloured by your experiences, glad you shared!
Did your daughter follow her dreams in the end?

 

[Aishia]

Well does anybody f follow their dream all the time.
she is happy with her family anyway

 

[Aishia]

So many people in the wrong jobs just dreaming really. 'wished I had done this or that.

 

[Janet_rabbit]

Hello! I have been studying medicine for 2 years now and I the last year have been struggeling with my mental health togeheter with living with diabetes and studying... Is there anyone else out there who would like to chat and discuss how you cope with it.. it would be very helpful, I just feel so lonely and stressed and I feel like no one understands...

Sorry to hear this Michelle. Well done for studying medicine. I know it's a tough course! I remember back to when I was a student (not medicine though) and how hard it was to cope with the T1 at times, especially not knowing anyone else who had it or could really understand. Just remember how well you are doing every day juggling both T1 and your studies. I think you will bring a lot of very good insight into T1 and mental health issues when you are qualified, which will be great for your patients! Have you spoken to your DSN about how you are feeling? If not, they might well be able to offer some supports. All the best.

 

[sailmartinric]

Hello! I have been studying medicine for 2 years now and I the last year have been struggeling with my mental health togeheter with living with diabetes and studying... Is there anyone else out there who would like to chat and discuss how you cope with it.. it would be very helpful, I just feel so lonely and stressed and I feel like no one understands...

 

[sailmartinric]

I have type 1a insulin dependent diabetes and only after becoming rheumatologist did I discover I had diabetes. Then before CGM and pump management I was ignorant of hypos and so subsequently became hypo unaware. So my advice is go on pump and cgm ASAP and stick to rigid regime of Carb counting and low HbA1c so as to remain as normal as possible exercise and keep in touch with your feelings as well as psychotherapy I realise this sounds impossible just that risks of problem is high as I have discovered