Three In Five Diabetes Patients Struggle With Emotional Or Mental Health Issues Linked To Condition | HuffPost Life

'This research brings to light the isolation that can come from managing an invisible condition.'

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Life Editor at HuffPost UK

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More needs to be done to support people with diabetes, as three in five currently struggle with emotional or mental health issues, a charity has warned.

A large-scale study by Diabetes UK asked 8,500 people of different ages, ethnicities and backgrounds from across the UK to share their experiences of living with diabetes today.

The survey, released to coincide with World Diabetes Day, uncovered the emotional toll managing diabetes can have on patients.

Participants said that diabetes affects their emotional wellbeing, with three in five (64%) saying that they often or sometimes feel down because of their diabetes

In addition, one in five people living with diabetes said they had used a counselling service from a trained professional to help them manage their diabetes.

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The study also uncovered that one in three (33%) patients said that diabetes got in the way of them or a family member doing things they wanted to do.

Alarmingly, only three in 10 (30%) said they definitely felt in control of their diabetes.

Lis Warren, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1965 when she was 13 years old, has first-hand experience of struggling with symptoms and side effects.

She suffered with an eating disorder as a result of her diabetes for many years and only received help eight years ago.

“When I was diagnosed, diabetes was seen as a medical condition but there was little understanding of the effect it has on mental health, so psychological support was unavailable. I only went to hospital once a year to review my blood glucose control,” she said.

“I started struggling with food when I was a teenager. When I look back now, I had an eating disorder. After many years of a disordered relationship with food, I even had seizures from low blood sugar when I routinely ate insufficient carbohydrate to lose weight.”

Lis now spends her time campaigning about diabetes and volunteering. She gives and gets support talking to others who live with diabetes and struggle with their food.

“I didn’t speak to anyone about how diabetes had affected me psychologically for forty years. I could easily have died from regularly bingeing and dieting and I feel very lucky to be alive, and remain well, because I finally got support.”

Diabests

Lis Warren

Diabetes affects more than 4.5 million people in the UK, and according to Chris Askew, chief executive of Diabetes UK, it is the “fastest-growing health crisis of our time”.

“It can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and lower limb amputations,” he said.

“This new research brings to light the isolation that can come from managing an invisible condition, and how detrimental living with diabetes can be to a person’s emotional wellbeing without the right support.”

He added that effective diabetes care requires that a person’s emotional needs are taken into account, alongside their physical care needs.

“We want to see a system where specialist support – from people who understand diabetes – is made available to those who need it,” he said.

“But in order to achieve that, we need to see sustained funding of £44 million for the diabetes transformation programme, which sets out to improve the treatment and care for people with diabetes.

“Investing now will not only allow us to reap substantial financial and social benefits in the future, but more importantly it will help people to live well with diabetes today.”

For information or support about living with diabetes, speak to your GP or visit the Diabetes UK website.

Diabetes Facts

What Is Type 1 Diabetes?(01 of15)

Commonly referred to as Juvenile Diabetes, because it’s often diagnosed in childhood. However, it can also be diagnosed in adults. Type 1 diabetics have a pancreas that produces little or no insulin, which requires insulin management through medication that is usually injected. (credit:Ron Levine via Getty Images)

What Is Type 2 Diabetes?(02 of15)

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that almost always develops in adulthood — which is why it’s sometimes referred to as adult-onset diabetes. "About 90 per cent of diabetics are Type 2, meaning that their ability to produce adequate levels of insulin is highly compromised and they have significant levels of insulin resistance,” says Dr. Barry Sears, president of the Inflammation Research Foundation. "The combination leads to significant increases in a variety of additional disorders — in particular heart disease and Alzheimer’s — in addition to the standard problems of loss of vision, increased amputation, and kidney failure." (credit:Thinkstock via Getty Images)

What Is Insulin?(03 of15)

Insulin is a hormone. It’s produced by the islet cells of the pancreas, and its role is to regulate glucose levels in the blood. The pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream, where it works to allow sugar to enter the cells and lowers the level of sugar in your bloodstream. As blood sugar drops, the secretion of insulin from the pancreas does too.While both types of diabetes involve insulin and the functioning of the pancreas, there are key differences in their causes and treatments. (credit:Leland Bobbe via Getty Images)

Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes(04 of15)

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include the emergence of bedwetting in children, frequent thirst, frequent urination, unintended weight loss, extreme hunger, blurred vision, and fatigue. (credit:Westend61 via Getty Images)

Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes(05 of15)

With type 2 diabetes, the condition can exist for years before diagnosis. But many of the symptoms are the same as with type 1: blurred vision, unexplained weight loss, excess thirst and urination, fatigue. Also watch for sores or infections that are slow to heal, as type 2 diabetes can affect your ability to heal and fight infection. As well, areas of darkened skin (acanthosis nigrican) in creased areas like the armpits and neck are a sign of insulin resistance. (credit:Justin Case via Getty Images)

Risk Factors For Type 1 Diabetes:(06 of15)

A variety of factors may contribute to the development of type 1 diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic, including possible genetics and exposure to certain viruses. Risk factors for the disease include family history and young age, with peaks in outset occurring between ages 4 and 7 and ages 10 and 14. (credit:Blasius Erlinger via Getty Images)

Risk Factors For Type 2 Diabetes:(07 of15)

With type 2 diabetes, the risk factors include having excess fatty tissue, carrying fat around the abdomen, having a family history of diabetes, being inactive, having polycystic ovary syndrome, and getting older. As well, people of black, Asian, Hispanic, and Aboriginal backgrounds are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, though it’s not known why. (credit:Tomasz Caderek via Getty Images)

Where You Live Might Play A Role(08 of15)

Interestingly, the incidence of type 1 diabetes increases as you travel away from the equator, according to the Mayo Clinic, leading some researchers to think it could develop more readily in winter than summer. The highest incidences of type 1 diabetes are found in Finland and Sardinia, for example, where rates are about double or triple those in the U.S. and 400 times those in Venezuela. (credit:Mina De La O via Getty Images)

Causes of Diabetes(09 of15)

It’s unknown exactly what causes type 1 diabetes, but in those with the condition, the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. In type 2 diabetes, the islet cells are still functioning as they should, to release insulin — the problem instead is that the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, the body becomes resistant to the insulin, or both. But while we know about some contributing factors, it’s also not known exactly what causes type 2 diabetes. (credit:goa_novi via Getty Images)

Side Effects(10 of15)

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes can both have serious effects on your health if not managed. Diabetes can affect your eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys, though keeping your blood sugar levels well managed does a lot to mitigate these effects. Nerve damage can manifest in loss of feeling or pain, usually beginning in the feet or hands. It could cause gastrointestinal problems or erectile dysfunction. Damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys can lead to kidney failure or kidney disease. Eye problems are also seen in some diabetics, and problems in pregnancy are also a risk. (credit:Peter Dazeley via Getty Images)

How Magnesium Can Help(11 of15)

Prevention of type 2 diabetes can be done in part through dietary choices, and making sure you get enough magnesium may be one of them. "Magnesium plays a pivotal role in the secretion and function of insulin,” Dean says. “Without it, Type 2 diabetes is inevitable.” Measurable magnesium deficiencies is common with the condition, she says, and related to many of the related complications. (credit:Steve Wisbauer via Getty Images)

Why You Need To Relax(12 of15)

Managing stress and anxiety can also help to keep your overall health steady, including possibly staving off type 2 diabetes. "The connection between stress, obesity and diabetes cannot be overlooked,” Dean says. "The stress chemical cortisol signals a metabolic shutdown that makes losing weight almost impossible. Magnesium can neutralize the effects of stress and is known as the anti-stress mineral.” And of course, if you do have diabetes, it’s easier to manage your condition if you aren’t overwhelmed. (credit:DragonImages via Getty Images)

Treatment(13 of15)

There is no cure for type 1 diabetes, though the disease is manageable and treatment has advanced considerably in recent decades. Those with type 1 diabetes must take insulin for the duration of their lives; the physician works with the patient to find the best insulin and dose for blood sugar maintenance. Other medications may be required for related conditions. Not all type 2 diabetics require insulin therapy, but some do. For both types, regular exercise and a healthy diet, along with weight control, can also help keep glucose levels consistent. (credit:Creatas Images via Getty Images)

Surgery Is An Option(14 of15)

For some type 2 diabetics, bariatric surgery may be an option to lose weight and control the disease. However, the surgery does involve serious risks that should be discussed with your physician. (credit:Melissa Brandes via Getty Images)

When To Talk To A Doctor(15 of15)

If you suspect you or a family member has type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it’s important to seek medical help as soon as possible. It may be helpful to keep track of your symptoms leading up to the appointment, and go in with a list of your medications and general information about your diet and exercise routines. (credit:Jupiterimages via Getty Images)

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