People with diabetes should learn to manage their emotions

In just one year, he has been competing for two jobs. He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes just one year ago, and his current blood sugar control is not ideal. The psychiatrist gave him a series of tests and the results confirmed that he was suffering from "depression."

"Diabetes" and "depression" may seem unrelated, but in fact they are closely related. Clinical data surveys show that diabetic patients are three times more likely to suffer from depression than the normal population, and about 1/2 of diabetic patients suffer from depression to varying degrees.

What factors can trigger depression

1.Internal reasons

There is a neurotransmitter called 5-hydroxytryptamine in the human brain. If its content in the brain decreases, it can cause neuroendocrine disorders, which is related to the occurrence of depression. Experiments have proven that diabetic patients will undergo the above changes in their brains, making them prone to depression.

2.External reasons

①Original living habits are broken. Zhang Guoqing likes to eat delicious food. In his previous eating habits, he often had fried dough sticks/fried pancakes and porridge for breakfast, and also had some fried dishes for lunch and dinner. After suffering from diabetes, the diet needs to be controlled according to the total calories and must be combined with exercise. This has a great impact on his daily life and consumes a lot of energy.

② In order to cooperate with treatment, it is necessary to monitor blood sugar and take medicine on time. Zhang Guoqing was afraid of pricking his finger with a blood collection needle. Every time he tested his blood sugar, it was like experiencing a life-or-death decision. In the past, he loved to visit relatives and friends, but after becoming ill, he had to pay attention to eating three meals a day and taking medicine, and his freedom of life was greatly reduced.

③The fear of complications made Zhang Guoqing feel like a big stone was weighing on his heart.

④Monthly medical expenses cost 1/3 of Zhang Guoqing’s retirement salary, and the long-term financial burden also overwhelmed him.

As time went by, Zhang Guoqing could not vent his pessimistic emotions. Not only did his blood sugar control fail to be ideal, he also became tired of life.

Common symptoms of depression

① Depressed mood, slow thinking, memory loss, and slow reaction.

②Lack of interest, empty life, unwillingness to participate in social activities, often alone, accompanied by anxiety, sleep disorders, etc.

Tips: Sleep disorders in patients with depression often manifest as early waking.

③ Symptoms such as fatigue, palpitations, chest tightness, gastrointestinal discomfort, and constipation may occur.

Depression and diabetes can work together

Depression not only brings psychological haze to patients, but is also very detrimental to the recovery of diabetic patients. Depression and diabetes can interact with each other, causing each other to form a vicious cycle.

The negative emotions of depression not only affect patients' compliance with treatment, but can also cause neuroendocrine disorders, inhibit insulin secretion, excite sympathetic nerves and increase catecholamine secretion, leading to an increase in blood sugar and accelerating the occurrence of diabetic complications. On the contrary, if blood sugar is not well controlled and the condition worsens, the patient will become more pessimistic and disappointed, aggravating the patient's depression.

Therefore, in self-management of diabetes, in addition to paying attention to disease management, you should also pay attention to the management of emotions and mentality.

Preventing depression starts with a smile

Preventing depression can start by taking the following actions:

①Accept the fact of diabetes as soon as possible and learn to smile, starting from smiling to yourself.

②Participate in more social activities, such as some public welfare organizations (Diabetes Association) and health education activities, get to know more patients with the same disease as yourself, and get support and help from your peers.

③ Carry out appropriate exercise, such as dancing to music, doing Tai Chi, walking briskly, etc.

④ Take a deep breath when experiencing emotional fluctuations. Find a quiet place to relax your body, close your eyes slightly, take a deep breath using abdominal breathing, and then exhale slowly, repeat 5-10 times.

⑤When you feel irritable, do something you like to divert your attention.

⑥Listen to some soothing and elegant music to calm your mind.

⑦Learn diabetes prevention and treatment knowledge through formal channels. For example, special lectures on diabetes provide basic knowledge and countermeasures about diabetes and complications, correct misconceptions and bad behaviors, actively control blood sugar, delay the occurrence of complications, improve quality of life, and enhance confidence in defeating the disease.

The above methods can make your life fulfilling and interesting. In addition, patients’ family members also play the role of psychological counselors, and their power cannot be underestimated. What can families do?

① Understand, encourage and comfort patients more, create a relaxed and happy family atmosphere for patients, and expose patients to more happy things.

② Help patients control their diet, urge them to exercise, assist in blood sugar monitoring, and remind them to take medicine on time.

③Learn diabetes knowledge with patients and help them build confidence in overcoming the disease.

④ Never complain, blame, or neglect patients.

The psychological burden of diabetic patients not only comes from the disease, but also from social and life aspects, so family members of diabetics should pay attention to it. When patients become depressed, they can consult a professional doctor.