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

ElenaP said:

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.

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Fairygodmother said:

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.

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Jaylee said:

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?

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Zhnyaka said:

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!

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Nicola M said:

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.

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Aishia said:

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.

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Antje77 said:

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.

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