The Diabetes Psychologist: Recent Episodes
Mark Heyman
Living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is stressful and can take a significant psychological and emotional toll - and this is something we just don’t talk about enough.
Join Dr. Mark Heyman, a clinical psychologist and a leading expert in T1D and mental health, as he talks candidly about the emotional side of T1D. You’ll hear honest conversations about how T1D impacts mental health, and you’ll get actionable strategies to help you face the emotional challenges of T1D head-on, and live a full life, without letting diabetes get in the way.
Do you ever feel like your life is all about type 1 diabetes? You’re not alone. Living with T1D is a full-time job, and it can feel overwhelming, especially if you also work in the diabetes field.
Here’s the good news: You don’t have to let T1D control your life. I’ve got two simple, practical tips to share that could make a real difference for you.
- Cut Yourself Some Slack: Stop aiming for perfection in managing your T1D. It’s okay not to get it right all the time. Lightening up on yourself can actually relieve a lot of stress.
- Set Boundaries: You don’t need to talk or think about diabetes 24/7. Make it clear to the people around you, too. This helps you focus on other aspects of your life, giving you a well-deserved break from T1D.
On the latest episode of the LiveFree with T1D podcast, I talk with healthcare providers who also have T1D. They love what they do but sometimes feel that T1D is consuming their lives. I share these exact strategies with them to help them maintain a healthier balance.
Sign up now to get your FREE daily T1D + Mental Health tip! www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip
Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
In this episode, Dr. Mark dives into the often debated topic: is T1D a "disability"? While the dictionary has its definition, the real impact lies in how such a label affects our emotional well-being and self-perception. Join Dr. Mark as he offers guidance, discusses with Andrea about her experience in job applications, and uncovers ways to provide clarity on this intriguing topic.
Sign up now to get your FREE daily T1D + Mental Health tip! www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip
Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
How can you create an environment to set you up for success in your life with T1D? Once that's in place, navigating life with T1D becomes so much simpler!
In the latest episode of the LiveFree with T1D Podcast, I coach Jeff on cultivating an environment where his 10 year old son Jackson can flourish both as a regular kid and someone managing T1D. Dive in as I share actionable tips to help Jeff, and by extension you, to shift mindsets and behaviors for better T1D management.
Sign up now to get your FREE daily T1D + Mental Health tip! www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip
Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
In this episode, we're breaking down some important topics that touch the lives of every T1D out there: A1C and time-in-range (TIR).
Topics Discussed:
- Dr. Mark's own experiences sharing his TIR on Instagram and the community's response.
- The interesting contrast between the comfort levels when discussing TIR and A1C, both personally and in the T1D community.
- An in-depth conversation with Grace, who, like many others, feels more open about discussing TIR than A1C.
- We delve into why sharing A1C can feel more loaded than sharing TIR and why this might be the case.
- Dr. Mark coaches Grace on how to reframe her mindset around A1C and TIR.
- The potential benefits of this mindset shift in promoting openness and reducing stigma around sharing T1D data.
Sign up now to get your FREE daily T1D + Mental Health tip! www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip
Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Each month, I reflect on my biggest wins, learnings, and challenges over the past 30 days with type 1 diabetes. Come along for the ride as I give you a recap of the highs and lows of my diabetes management in July 2023!
Sign up now to get your FREE daily T1D + Mental Health tip! www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip
Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Remember being a teen, when all you wanted was to fit in? Living with T1D, or loving someone who does, can make feeling "normal" a real challenge. Emotions, friendships, and how we see ourselves can all get mixed up in it!
I won't pretend it's easy to be a teen with T1D. But, have you ever thought that the way you see things can make it harder? What if we could change how we see things?
I recently chatted with Kyra, who found out she has T1D at 17. She's been dealing with a bunch of feelings, many of which come from not wanting her diabetes to make her stand out.
In this week's LiveFree with T1D podcast, I help Kyra take a close look at how she talks about her life with T1D. We found that some words she often uses can create a negative view of herself that may not match up with her real life. Like adjusting the sails on her sailboat, we work together to help her rethink her journey with T1D.
Get a FREE T1D + Mental Health tip delivered to your inbox each day. To subscribe, go to www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip
Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
On this week's episode of the LiveFree with T1D podcast, I coach Catherine to pay attention to the words she uses when talking about T1D. It seems she has developed a habit of using certain words that, upon closer examination, aren't actually accurate. These words have shaped how she thinks about her diabetes. By focusing on the sails of her diabetes stress management sailboat, I help Catherine transform her language and her mindset, making her T1D easier to handle.
Get a FREE T1D + Mental Health tip delivered to your inbox each day. To subscribe, go to www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip
Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
The numbers on the scale can be a big source of stress for people with T1D. It just adds to the mental and emotional load that diabetes already brings. But what can we do about it?
Meet Jeff. He's a former pro athlete. But since he retired and got a little older, he's been struggling to lose weight. Like many of us, when Jeff goes low, he tends to binge eat. And this cancels out any progress he's made towards controlling his weight.
This week on the LiveFree with T1D podcast, I'm working with Jeff. I'm helping him change his thinking about his weight and pay more attention to his overall health. We talk about how the number on the scale is just a number. And we discuss better ways to measure health.
Get a FREE T1D + Mental Health tip delivered to your inbox each day. To subscribe, go to www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip
Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Each month, I reflect on my biggest wins, learnings, and challenges over the past 30 days with type 1 diabetes. Come along for the ride as I give you a recap of the highs and lows of my diabetes management in June 2023!
Sign up now to get your FREE daily T1D + Mental Health tip! www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip
Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Ever had folks ask you if you can eat certain foods because you have T1D? Or if eating too much sugar is the reason you have T1D? Yeah, we all have.
Having to educate people all the time about T1D, especially when it's people who should already know, like those insurance company reps is frustrating!
This week on the LiveFree with T1D podcast, I coach Rob. He's spent loads of time trying to get his insurance company to understand his needs. But most times, it's like they just don't get it. We talk about how he can cope with this frustration and keep going, focusing on his 'why', even when he feels like he's not getting anywhere.
Get a FREE T1D + Mental Health tip delivered to your inbox each day. To subscribe, go to www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip
Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Becoming more independent while managing diabetes is no small feat. Suddenly, you're the one in charge of ordering your own supplies, remembering to bolus, and dealing with your lows. With freedom comes responsibility, right?
For parents of young adults with T1D, the struggle is real too. Letting go is not easy, and if you're nodding along, you'll definitely resonate with Leslie's story.
Leslie's son, now 20, is stepping into a new phase of life where he is more independent, both in general and in his T1D management. This newfound independence is normal for someone his age, but it's also sparking concerns for Leslie. She's becoming increasingly anxious about his safety and well-being.
This week on the LiveFree with T1D podcast, I chat with Leslie about the challenges of letting go. We explore how her mindset might be amplifying these difficulties, and discuss ways she can adjust her perspective to ease her worries and give her son more room to grow.
Get a FREE T1D + Mental Health tip delivered to your inbox each day. To subscribe, go to www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip
Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Have you ever found yourself chasing after perfection in your diabetes management, only to be met with the humbling reality that your blood sugars don't always go according to plan?
For someone with an analytic mind, this realization can be a harsh reality. In other areas of your life, things behave in a predictable manner. But T1D doesn't always play fair.
In this week's episode of the LiveFree with T1D podcast, Dr. Mark coaches Josh—an engineer who discovers the art of accepting imperfection in the face of an unpredictable condition: type 1 diabetes.
In a world that often demands control and precision, Josh confronts the truth that diabetes, by its very nature, is a mystery waiting to be unraveled. 🕵️♂️
Get a FREE T1D + Mental Health tip delivered to your inbox each day. To subscribe, go to www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip
Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
The hard truth is that you cannot control how others behave or think about you, no matter how hard you try. However, you have complete control over how you respond.
That's why having a mission in your life with T1D is crucial. By setting a clear intention for what you want to achieve and what you want your life to be about, you can keep moving forward, even when others attempt to hold you back.
In this week's podcast episode, I had the privilege of coaching Anita on how to deal with people who put her down because of her diabetes. We delve into Anita's incredible mission of empowering others with diabetes and how it helps her drown out the negativity, enabling her to stay focused on her goals.
Access to LiveFree with T1D is now open! To join, go to www.thediabetespsychologist.com.
Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Do you ever feel like you just need a break from diabetes? Do you think the best way to reduce your stress is to avoid thinking about and managing diabetes for a while?
On paper, that makes sense. However, what actually happens is you make the situation worse. The more you try to avoid the stress of diabetes, the harder it comes back to bite you.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I talk about The Paradox of Avoidance. You'll hear why trying to avoid stress does the exact opposite of what you want it to do. I show you how leaning into the stress makes it easier to deal with, and I give you some tips to help you do just that.
Click HERE to join The Diabetes Psychologist Membership. Use code COMMUNITY to get your first month for $10.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
My book, Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It comes out soon! As I think about the quickly approaching book release, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the habits that I formed and the lessons that I learned while writing the book. In this episode of the Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I talk about the 5 lessons I learned while writing my book. I share some tips on how you can use these lessons in your life to improve your diabetes management. Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It will be on April 19, 2022. You will be able to purchase the book on Amazon or on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Click HERE to join The Diabetes Psychologist Membership. Use code COMMUNITY to get your first month for $10.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
I love when I have the chance to chat with other mental health professionals who specialize in diabetes. It is even more exciting when those professionals are creating inclusive opportunities that go beyond the physically-focused mindset surrounding a diabetes diagnosis. In this episode of the Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, my guests are Allison Nimlos, LAMFT, and Sara Adams, LCSW. Both Allison and Sara are therapists who live with diabetes and work with people living with diabetes. Together, they are putting on the FIRST EVER Diabetes + Mental Health Conference on May 20-21, 2022. I hope this conversation sparks your interest in learning more about diabetes and mental health. To find out more and register for the Diabetes + Mental Health Conference, go to https://dmhconference.vfairs.com/ or follow @dmhconference on Instagram. Early bird registration ends Sunday, April 3 You can find Allison on Instagram @thediabetictherapist. You can find Sara on Instagram @t1dtherapist. Click HERE to join The Diabetes Psychologist Membership. Use code COMMUNITY to get your first month for $10. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
When I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 23 years ago, I had a lot of challenges and had no clue what I was doing!
I was scared and overwhelmed.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, I tell you about 5 things I wish I would have done earlier in my diagnosis for my mental health. No matter how long you have been living with diabetes, I hope my experiences can help you on your journey.
Click HERE to join The Diabetes Psychologist Membership. Use code COMMUNITY to get your first month for $10.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Being a teenager is tough.
Being a teen with T1D is extremely challenging.
From navigating relationships with family, friends, and teachers to gaining independence and eventually moving out on their own, diabetes can put a wrench in the already landmine-ridden world of adolescence.
But this doesn't mean that all hope is lost!
My guest on this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast is Dr. Kenneth Gorfinke. Dr. Ken is a psychologist who works with teens and their parents to help them improve their relationship when it comes to living with type 1 diabetes. In this episode, Dr. Ken talks about how he approaches this work and gives some tips on how parents and teens can put these skills into action.
Click HERE to find out more about Dr. Ken.
Click HERE to join The Diabetes Psychologist Membership. Use code COMMUNITY to get your first month for $10.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Do you blame T1D for all the problems in your life?
You had a bad day at work...diabetes is to blame.
You got in a fight with your wife...it's T1D's fault!
Your kids aren't behaving...diabetes is responsible.
We all scapegoat diabetes to some extent, and sometimes, we don't even realize we are doing it.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I talk about what it means to scapegoat T1D and give you the four most common reasons why people do it. Then, I give you three steps you can take to make sure you are not passing the blame to diabetes for the challenges in your life that it's not responsible for.
Click HERE to join The Diabetes Psychologist Membership. Use code COMMUNITY to get your first month for $10.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
The diabetes community has many faces. We come from diverse backgrounds, and each of us is unique. However, we are all united by the common bond of type 1 diabetes.
The diabetes community comes together in different ways. Sometimes it's through diabetes camps and in-person events, and other times it's running into another T1D in the wild. The T1D community also comes together through social media, podcasts, and even photography.
My guest on this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast is Laura Pavlakovich. Laura is the founder of You're Just My Type, an organization that works to create a lasting community around Type 1 Diabetes. Laura started You're Just My Type to use her background in photojournalism to support her passion for building community for people with T1D. In our conversation, we talk about why community, in whatever form it takes, is a critical piece of the T1D + mental health puzzle.
You can find out more about You're Just My Type at https://www.yourejustmytype.com and on Instagram at @yourjustmytype1.
Click HERE to join The Diabetes Psychologist Membership. Use code MYTYPE to get your first month for $10.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
My listener's keep the questions coming, and I want to keep the answers flowing. This episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast is dedicated to answering your questions.
In this episode of my podcast, I answer questions about:
✔️ How to make T1D less annoying
✔️ How to combat decision fatigue
✔️ How to learn to trust diabetes technology
✔️ Whether T1D ever gets any easier
Click HERE to join The Diabetes Psychologist Membership.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Raise your hand if you've even been self-critical about T1D.
People with T1D tend to be hard on themselves. We beat ourselves up when our blood sugars are out of range, when we don't make the healthiest choices, or when the emotional burden of T1D weighs us down. Self-compassion with T1D is possible, and I want to tell you how.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I talk about self-compassion and give you a step-by-step guide on how you can be more compassionate with yourself around the struggles of T1D. I also give you two challenges to help you put these tools into practice starting today!
Click HERE to join The Diabetes Psychologist Membership.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
You are probably focusing your time and energy with T1D in the wrong place!
You most likely focus your attention on things you don't have complete control over. You focus on your blood sugars and how you feel physically and emotionally. You try to control these variables, sometimes with limited success. And when you can't control them, you double down and try even harder.
What if I told you there was a better place to focus your energy with T1D?
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I discuss why you shouldn't focus your efforts on your diabetes output. Instead, you should focus your time and energy on what you have complete control over--your input. When you focus on your diabetes management behavior, not only do you see what you can control, but the output follows. You feel more confident, and your blood sugar and stress levels will thank you. In this episode, I give you four steps you can take to focus on your input with T1D.
Click HERE to join The Diabetes Psychologist Membership.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
I don't know about you, but I fail with T1D all the time. Things don't always go as planned. It's just part of life.
We need to change the way we think about failure with T1D. I want to encourage you to lean in and be open to the possibility of failure in your life with T1D. When you try to avoid failing, you stay stuck and deny yourself the opportunity to grow.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I discuss why failure with T1D can be a good thing. You'll hear how being open to failure can bring freedom and flexibility into your life. At the end of this episode, I give you three steps you can take to allow yourself to fail with T1D and improve your mental health in the process.
Click HERE to join The Diabetes Psychologist Membership.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
I have some exciting news!
My book, Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It is coming soon.
Last year, I came to a realization. T1D gets a lot more challenging when you start believing you can’t handle this stress. When you accept that T1D sucks AND believe you can handle it, life with T1D gets a lot easier. And from there, this book was born.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast I talk about what you're going to learn when you read the book, as well as what the process of writing the book taught me about managing the stress of T1D. I also give you a sneak peak into what I hope are your biggest takeaways from the book.
Click HERE to join The Diabetes Psychologist Membership.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Have you ever felt embarrassed by your diabetes supplies? If so, you're not alone!
The good news is, it doesn't have to be this way!
My guest on this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast is Kyrra Richards, founder of Myabetic. A professional dancer, Kyrra was diagnosed with T1D when she was 24 years old, and like many people, felt embarrassed by her diabetes supplies. An artist at heart, she started thinking about how she could make her diabetes gear better reflect her personality. Kyrra started designing stylish medical products to help herself and others feel less self-conscious about their diabetes without knowing anything about fashion. In our conversation, Kyrra talks about how Myabetic's products and the Myabetic community help empower people to manage their diabetes without shame.
Click HERE to join The Diabetes Psychologist Membership.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
You know that living with T1D is stressful, and you may be struggling with the emotional burden of diabetes. How do you know whether you can deal with this stress on your own or if you should see a mental health professional?
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I talk about what a diabetes psychologist does. Then I give you some guidelines you can use to help you decide if you need to see a diabetes psychologist. I also talk about other ways that people with T1D can access support to help them navigate the challenges that come with living with T1D every single day.
Click HERE to join The Diabetes Psychologist Membership.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
My listeners reach out and ask all kinds of great questions about T1D & mental health. I want to make sure my answers can reach as many folks as possible!
I am going to answer some of your questions on the latest episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast.
In this episode of my podcast, I answer YOUR questions about:
✔️ Diabetes and sleep
✔️ How to deal with perfectionistic tendencies with T1D
✔️ How to find joy in your life with T1D
For more information on diabetes and sleep, check out THIS episode.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
It's time to look ahead and set some big goals for your life with T1D in the new year.
Why is it helpful to set diabetes goals? Where do you even start?
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I dive into how you can set T1D goals in the new year. You'll get to dream big, push yourself, and see what's possible for you in your life, even with T1D along for the ride.
We'll talk about the three types of diabetes-related goals: Blood sugar, mindset, and behavior. And you'll see how these types of goals all complement the other. From this starting point, you'll learn how to drill down to identify your actual goals with T1D.
Finally, I'll give you four questions to ask yourself as you set goals for the new year that will set you up for success.
Question #1: How much control do I have over the outcome?
Question #2: Who is the person I need to become to make this goal a reality?
Question #3: Am I willing to fail when I try to achieve this goal?
Question #4: What is ONE simple first step I can take today to get closer to my goal?
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
2021 has taught me a whole new set of lesson and I want to share my biggest learnings with you!
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I tell you the FIVE most important things I learned in 2021 about T1D and mental health.
Learning #1: T1D doesn't live in a silo. Yes, diabetes makes life stressful, but T1D is not the only thing causing you stress in your life. You can't forget that your life affects T1D and T1D impacts your life. The stress works both ways.
Learning #2: Quality of life matters. There is more to life with with T1D than perfect blood sugars and sometimes, you have to make a choice. Sometimes you may choose your quality of life, and that's ok.
Learning #3: Take small steps. Managing your blood sugars and the stress of T1D can feel overwhelming, even paralyzing. However, there is almost always one thing you can do to get you closer to your goal. Do it, no matter how insignificant it feels.
Learning #4: Mental health support with T1D goes beyond therapy. In fact, most people with T1D do not need to see a mental health professional, but they need something. Be willing to think outside the box and use the resources you need.
Learning #5: Emotional health with T1D takes practice. It does not come naturally to most people. You may not always get it right, but you have to put in the effort and practice if you want to see improvement.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
The holiday season can feel like a landmine for people with T1D. You want to enjoy all your favorite foods, but you also want to keep your blood sugar in range. Doing both at the same time feels like an impossible task.
That's when things start to get stressful. You start feeling out of control, and you may even want to give up on even trying to manage T1D until after the new year.
Living with T1D during the holidays can be complicated. So I brought in an expert to help you navigate food and the holiday season with T1D.
My guest on this episode of the podcast is Amanda Ciprich. Amanda is a Registered Dietician who has been living with T1D for over ten years. She is an expert in helping people with T1D develop eating habits that make them feel great and are sustainable long-term. In this episode, Amanda talks about her journey with T1D and food and why she decided to become a dietician. She also shares her best tips for eating the foods you love while managing your blood sugars during the holidays.
You can find Amanda at www.t1dnutritionist.com on Instagram at @t1d.nutritionist.
Both golf and type 1 diabetes can be frustrating and unpredictable. The similarities don’t stop there. There is a lot you can learn from playing golf that can help you deal with the emotional burden of diabetes.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist, I talk about what T1D and golf have in common. You'll hear how the four key lessons I've learned by playing golf can help you manage diabetes and reduce your stress.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
All of us with T1D experience burnout at times. Diabetes burnout is a normal part of living with T1D.
But sometimes, you may start to expect to feel burned out. And this expectation can be what actually makes you feel burned out. You get so used to diabetes burnout, and it becomes a habit.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I talk about what causes diabetes burnout and how sometimes T1D burnout can get to be a habit. I give you some ways to tell the difference between real T1D burnout and the habit of burnout. I also give you some things you can use to break the habit of burnout, so you don't have to feel burned out any more than necessary.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Everybody has an opinion about the best way for you to manage T1D.
Your doctor may think a pump is the only way to go. Your friends with T1D might swear by using multiple daily injections (MDI). Your insurance company wants to know what is going to be the most cost-effective option.
Which option is best for you? And most importantly, which diabetes management option is best for your mental health?
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I break down the mental health advantages and disadvantages of using an insulin pump and MDI. I talk about why making the best choice for you is so important and give you some things to consider as you work to make the decision that's right for you (at least for right now).
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Nothing makes people with T1D more anxious than the thought of having a low blood sugar during exercise.
Exercise with T1D can feel like a big black hole. You never know what to expect.
Anxiety about exercise makes some people stop before they even get started, and other people tread very lightly with physical activity when they would rather go all out.
What if you were able to exercise with confidence?
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, you'll find out how! My guest on this episode is Christel Oerum. Christel is a personal trainer who has been living with T1D since 1997. Her passion is helping people exercise safely and confidently with T1D. Christel is the founder of Diabetes Strong, a platform where people living with diabetes can find all the information they need to live healthy and active lives.
You can find Christel at www.diabetstrong.com, on Instagram at @diabetesstrong_ig, Facebook at @DiabetesStrong, and Youtube.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
People reach out and ask all kinds of questions about T1D & mental health. I want to make sure my answers can reach as many folks as possible!
So I decided to answer some of your questions on the latest episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast.
In this episode of my podcast, I answer YOUR questions about:
✔️ The relationship between T1D and anger
✔️ Why T1D burnout doesn't go away
✔️ How to accept that T1D is forever
✔️ What to do if you don't want support
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Does T1D make you feel stuck?
Does the stress of T1D hold you back and make it difficult for you to do what you want?
It doesn't have to be this way!
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I give you the five secrets to getting unstuck with T1D. This framework will help you move from feeling stuck to feeling free and flexible in your life with T1D. After listening to this episode, you'll see how even though T1D is stressful, you can have an easier time with it!.
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If you are like many people, the stress of T1D holds you back. What would you do if the stress of T1D didn't get in your way?
You can get unstuck with T1D - I promise!
Before you can get unstuck, you have to believe you can do it. If you buy the common myths about what it takes to get unstuck with T1D, you'll never even try!
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I help you dispel the FIVE most common myths about what it takes to get unstuck with T1D.
Myth #1: Your blood sugars have to be perfect all the time
Myth #2: You have to stop feeling stressed, burned out, or anxious
Myth #3: You have to like having T1D
Myth #4: You have to have support from everyone in your life
Myth #5: You don't have to put in any work - it will just happen!
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When I ask someone why they are willing to work hard to manage diabetes, the answer is almost always 'I want to be healthy.'
Wanting to be healthy is NOT a good enough reason!
Managing T1D is a lot of work. If you are going to put in the effort, you need more than a vague reason. You need something that will keep you motivated right now.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I give you five steps to find the real reason you want to work to manage your diabetes. After listening to this episode, you'll have the motivation to work hard to get your blood sugars in range and deal with the stress of T1D because you'll see an immediate payoff!
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This week marks ONE year of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast.
And what a year it's been!
When I launched the podcast on October 15, 2020, I had no idea what to expect. I knew this podcast was something the T1D community needed, but I had no idea how big of an impact it would have.
I have been reflecting on my biggest takeaways from putting out a new episode every week for the past year. My biggest surprise is how much I've learned about myself, diabetes, and about the diabetes community. I have loved every minute of it!
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist, I talk about the lessons I learned.
Lesson #1: Do things that scare you. T1D can make you feel anxious, but this anxiety does not have to dictate what you can and cannot do most of the time.
Lesson #2: Progress, not perfection. Life (with or without T1D) will never be perfect. Letting go of perfection takes a load off.
Lesson #3: Small things make a big difference. If you are struggling, try something new.
Lesson #4: We are stronger together. People with T1D need other people with T1D. Period.
Lesson #5: We need to redefine what we mean by mental health support. For people with T1D, mental health support goes beyond therapy. Way beyond therapy.
Lesson #6: Showing up is 80% of the game. When you show up and manage T1D, things get a lot easier.
Lesson #7: Life with T1D is full of endless possibilities. Embrace them!
You are the captain of your diabetes care team, and you get to set the agenda with what you talk about at your appointments. With T1D, your emotional health matters just as much as your blood sugars, and you need to be able to talk to your endocrinologist about both!
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I tell you how you can talk to your diabetes care team about your mental health needs. You'll learn helpful strategies you can use to set the agenda for your appointments so you can walk away knowing you are the most important person on your diabetes team (hint: you are!). When you're in the driver's seat of your diabetes management, and you have a team to support you, the emotional challenges of T1D become a lot easier to navigate!
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Do you have a vision for your life? What do you want to be able to do in your life that you think you cannot do? How does T1D get in your way of achieving this vision?
With T1D, we often talk about what we don't want rather than what we do want. You don't want to feel anxious. You don't want to feel burnt out. You don't want to have diabetes anymore. But where does getting rid of these feelings leave you?
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I give you a 6-step process for identifying and taking steps toward your vision in your life - even when that life includes T1D. You'll learn why you have to dream big, let go of fear, and have a why that matters to make this vision a reality. Once this happens, you'll be able to navigate around any barriers T1D puts in your way!
Reimagine T1D is a FREE interactive virtual workshop that will help you REIMAGINE what is possible in your life with T1D.
You'll walk away with actionable tools to help you navigate the stress of T1D and get the support you need, so you can live the life you want without letting T1D hold you back. It will take place on Thursday, October 21, 2021, from 7-9p Eastern.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
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Type 1 diabetes should never be a do-it-yourself condition. We all need support to help us navigate the stress of living with T1D. Unless you live at a diabetes camp full time, you are around people who don't have T1D every day. Many of these people try hard to support you when T1D gets stressful.
But what do you do to support them?
And how can supporting your support system benefit you?
This episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast is all about why it's critical to support the people in your life who support you - especially those who don't have T1D. You'll learn how lending your team a hand not only helps them but also helps you. I'll give you 5 specific ways you can start supporting your T1D support team today.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
People with type 1 diabetes tend to be perfectionists. We don't like it when things do not go as planned. But if you live with T1D, you know that perfection is not always possible.
When you set expectations for yourself around T1D that you can't meet, you set yourself up for failure. You not only get frustrated with yourself, but you also don't let yourself see how well you are actually doing. You get stuck thinking that no matter what you do, it won't be good enough.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I talk about why managing your expectations for what success looks like with T1D is critical for your emotional health. We'll look at four areas where people with T1D tend to set unrealistic expectations, and you'll get strategies you can use to help you develop more realistic expectations in your life with T1D.
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It's time to answer more of your questions on T1D & Mental health.
Consider this your T1D & mental health audio advice column! I hope you find it helpful!
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, I answer your questions about:
- Why T1D does not have to be your top priority
- How to deal with a fear of food with T1D
- Ways to take a 'break' from the stress of T1D
- Tips for overcoming T1D imposter syndrome
Do you have questions that you want me to answer on a future diabetes & mental health audio advice column? Click HERE to send me a message and ask away!
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
If you are like most people, you have a vague, stock answer that you always use to describe your emotional state with T1D.
Fine. Tired. Burnout.
But that does not tell the whole story about how you are doing. And it certainly doesn't do anything to help you improve your situation.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I talk about how to do an inventory of your mental health with T1D. A mental health inventory looks at how you are doing in different areas of your life with T1D. You get to see not only how you are doing but what your life with T1D will look like when things have improved. I guide you through the process of doing a mental health inventory of your life with T1D, show you how you can use your inventory to make real improvements in your emotional health.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
You are the chief executive officer (CEO) of your life with T1D. As the CEO, you get to define your mission and vision and decide on what short- and long-term strategies you want to use to get there. Being the CEO of your life with T1D is a lot of responsibility, but it also comes with some benefits.
You get to call all the shots.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I talk about what it means to be the CEO of your life with T1D and the steps you can take to own this role. I look at some of the best practices of the top business CEOs in the United States, and I talk about how you can apply these practices in your leadership role in your life with T1D.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
The decisions involved in managing T1D are complicated, and they go beyond the logistics of healthy eating and taking insulin.
The choices you make about T1D do not live in a silo. Sometimes they involve making trade-offs between your blood sugars and living life the way you want to live it.
How do you make these decisions?
Without a system in place to make these decisions, it is easy to feel lost. These decisions become haphazard, based on your blood or whatever has the most immediate payoff.
In this episode of the podcast, I give you a step-by-step framework to help you make decisions about managing T1D based on your values. Your values are what guides you. They are the filters you use to make sure your decisions align with the most important things to you.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
Your questions about T1D and mental health keep pouring in! These questions are fantastic, and I want to make sure I can share the answers with all of you. That is why I am doing another episode answering YOUR questions.
Consider this your T1D & mental health audio advice column! I hope you find it helpful!
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, I answer your questions about:
- How a pump break can be good for your mental health
- Tips for accepting the fact that you have T1D
- How to deal with an endocrinologist who is a jerk
- The biggest mental health challenges Dr. Mark has had with T1D
Do you have questions that you want me to answer on a future diabetes & mental health audio advice column? Click HERE to send me a message and ask away!
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
In Episode #44, I gave an overview of the three pillars of emotional health with T1D. You can listen to Episode #44 HERE.
In Episode #45, I did a deep dive into pillar #1: Diabetes Eduction. You can listen to Episode #45 HERE.
In Episode #46, I did a deep dive into pillar #2: Mindset. You can listen to Episode #46 HERE.
In this episode, I do a deep dive into pillar #3: Behavior.
Type 1 diabetes is an anxiety-provoking condition. And a lot of times, this fear gets in the way of taking action. You put off doing things you want to do with T1D because you are scared, and you tell yourself you will do them when your fear goes away.
With this approach, you will probably be waiting a very long time.
The key to emotional health with T1D is not your emotions. It is your behavior. If your feelings did not get in the way of your behavior, they would not be that big of a deal.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, I talk about why your behavior is a critical aspect of your emotional health with T1D. Everything you do for your emotional health with T1D is so you can do what you want in your life. In this episode, I give you steps you can take to lead with action, rather than letting your emotions call the shots with your behavior. Leading with action is the secret to not letting your anxiety and the stress of diabetes hold you back!
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
In Episode #44, I gave an overview of the three pillars of emotional health with T1D. You can listen to that episode HERE.
In this episode, I do a deep dive into pillar #2: Mindset.
Your mindset matters with T1D.
You may not be able to change anything about diabetes, but you can change how you approach, think about, and respond to whatever T1D throws your way. Changing your T1D mindset allows you to control how you experience life with diabetes.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, I discuss why your mindset is an essential aspect of your emotional health with T1D. I talk about how changing your mindset can transform your entire experience with diabetes and make the challenging parts easier to handle. In this episode, you will learn how to identify your current mindset and steps to change your mindset with T1D.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com.
Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.
On Episode #44, I gave an overview of the three pillars of emotional health with T1D. You can listen to that episode HERE.
On this episode, I do a deep dive into pillar #1: Diabetes Education.
Diabetes education can have an enormous impact on your psychological well-being. If you don't understand T1D and how to manage it, you will feel lost and overwhelmed. Once you get steady on your feet with your diabetes, you will be in a much better place.
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, I talk about why good diabetes education is the only way to set yourself up for success on your T1D and mental health journey. I talk about how diabetes education can make you more confident, reduce your anxiety and give you hope that your life with T1D can get better. You will learn how to figure out what kind of education you need (there are more than you think) and how to find resources that meet your needs.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Most people think about emotional health with T1D in the wrong way. Emotional health does not mean never feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and burnt out with T1D. It means being able to handle these feelings and not let them get in your way. If you have challenging T1D-related emotions, but they don't get in your way, my guess is they won't bother you too much.
What do you have to do to become emotionally healthy with T1D?
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, I introduce the three pillars of emotional health with T1D. These pillars are:
- Diabetes education
- Mindset
- Behavior
I tell you why these three pillars are the foundation you need to be ready to handle whatever T1D throws your way. You'll see how looking at your emotional health with T1D through the lens of these pillars can show you the path toward freedom and flexibility in your life with T1D.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Living with type 1 diabetes on your own is difficult enough.
But what happens when you have T1D, and you also have a child with type 1 diabetes?
My guest on this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast is Chelsea Lugone. Chelsea was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 23 years old, and she is a nurse practitioner caring for people with T1D. She has three children, two of whom have T1D. Chelsea talks about the challenges and the bright spots of having two children with T1D while living with the condition herself. She also offers some great advice and encouragement for anyone with diabetes who is thinking of becoming a parent but who is worried or scared about being a parent with T1D or possibly having a child with T1D.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Please also join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook!
Restful sleep with T1D can be hard to come by. You wake up when your blood sugar is high. You wake up when your blood sugar is low. You may have trouble falling asleep because you are worried about high or low blood sugar in the middle of the night. And let's not even talk about the alerts and alarms that wake you up! You can sleep well with T1D, and you'll learn how on this episode of the podcast. My guest on this episode is Dr. Nancy Lin. Dr. Nancy is a psychologist who specializes in helping people sleep better. We talk all about how T1D can impact your sleep, and Dr. Nancy gives you some helpful tips about how you can use both your behavior and mindset to set yourself up for success for restful sleep with T1D.
You can find Dr. Nancy on the web at http://www.gotosleepsd.com.
Click HERE to download your FREE guide on T1D and sleep!
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Do you have someone with type 1 diabetes who you look up to and admire? Someone who has done incredible things without letting T1D get in the way.
We all need role models in our life. These are people who show you what is possible. People you can learn from and who you can use as models as you push beyond your limits with T1D.
Your T1D role model may be someone you know, or it may be someone who you admire from afar. Either way, people who have done amazing things with T1D are an inspiration!
My guest on this episode of the podcast is Kristina Loskarjova. Kristina is the author of YES, you can!, a book that highlights inspirational people who live with T1D. I talk to Kristina about what inspired her to write this book and her biggest takeaways from the people she met along the way.
You can find Kristina on Instagram @kristinaloskarjova and @yesyoucan_t1d. You can also find Kristina's book by clicking HERE.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Please also join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook!
Let's be honest. Living with T1D is not easy. As much as you don't want to admit it, life with T1D can be downright challenging sometimes.
But honesty works both ways.
While T1D is not easy, most of the time, it is doable. If you make the challenges more complicated than they need to be, you aren't doing yourself any favors.
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, I talk about why being honest with yourself about T1D is critical to your mental health. I give you some ways to check yourself to make sure you are not sugar-coating diabetes or making it into something in your life that it is not. And if you find you have not been completely honest with yourself about T1D, I give you a step-by-step guide to help you see T1D for what it is - and nothing more and nothing less.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Did you have a coach in high school who inspired you and encouraged you to do your best? Someone who held you accountable, pushed you out of your comfort zone, and gave you the tools you needed to succeed? When we talk about high school sports, having a coach is normal. But what about a coach to help you manage diabetes? My guest on this episode of the podcast is Lauren Bongiorno. Lauren is a T1D Health coach and the founder of Lauren Bongiorno Coaching. I talk to Lauren about what T1D coaching is (and what it's not) and how she coaches people with T1D to change their mindset, reduce barriers, and feel more confident in their diabetes management.
You can find Lauren on Instagram @lauren_bongiorno and on the web at https://laurenbongiorno.com.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Every year on June 1, I go to the same restaurant I went to the day I was diagnosed to eat pizza and commemorate my diaversary. My diaversary is an opportunity to reflect on my experience living with T1D and look for ways I can improve. My diaversary tradition helps me stay on track with my mental health with T1D.
On this episode of the podcast, I tell you why I have pizza at the same restaurant every year on my diaversary and why this tradition is so meaningful to me. I also reflect back on my last year living with T1D and tell talk about what went well for me, and what I can improve. Finally, I give you some tips for how you can commemorate your diaversary, even if you never have commemorated it before.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
My listeners send me so many questions about T1D and mental health, and I want to make sure I answer as many of them as possible. So, I decided to do a whole podcast episode answering listener questions.
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, I answer your questions about:
✔︎ How to be more patient with T1D ✔︎ How to feel less conscious about diabetes tech ✔︎ The impact of COVID on the mental health of people with T1D ✔︎ How to deal with a spouse/partner who asks too many questions about your blood sugar ✔︎Why low blood sugar anxiety can be helpful
Consider this your T1D & mental health audio advice column! I hope you find it helpful!
It's so easy to fall into the trap of only seeing what T1D has taken away from you. And there is no doubt that T1D has brought on some challenges. What if you could also think about what T1D has brought into your life? This way of thinking may be new for you, but it can also be valuable.
My guest on this episode of the podcast is Mandi Franklin. Mandi is a pediatric nurse practitioner who found her passion because she was diagnosed with T1D when she was three years old. Mandi talks about how diabetes led her into a career she loves and how having diabetes makes her even better at her job, even when she encounters challenges at work because of T1D.
You can find Mandi on Instagram @mandithepetitenp and the web at https://www.petitenp.com/.
Does T1D hold you back and keep you from doing what you want to do in your life? Does T1D make you feel stuck?
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL THIS WAY!
Click HERE to enroll in Get Unstuck with T1D, my 6-week program that will help you become more free, flexible, and confident in your life with T1D.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
This is the second episode in a 2-part series about boundaries and T1D.
I know you've been there. I know you've had that friend or family member - even a doctor - who tries to be helpful but crosses the line with you and your diabetes.
Maybe your friend asks you if you should be eating that dessert. Or your mom texts you as soon as she gets a CGM alert on her phone. Your doctor may even yell at you for not doing a good job managing your diabetes. None of these things are ok!
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I talk about how you can set healthy boundaries with the people in your life, including your health care team. You are in charge of how you live your life with T1D, and healthy boundaries can help you get the support you need from other people. I'll give you some sure-fire ways to tell if someone has crossed your boundaries with T1D and strategies you can use to set and stick to these healthy boundaries.
Does T1D hold you back and keep you from doing what you want to do in your life? Does T1D make you feel stuck?
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL THIS WAY!
Click HERE to enroll in Get Unstuck with T1D, my 6-week program that will help you become more free, flexible, and confident in your life with T1D.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
This is the first episode in a 2-part series about boundaries and T1D.
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, we talk about your boundaries with T1D and with yourself. Do you let T1D take up too much energy, or do you not focus on it enough? What boundaries do you set for yourself around things like what and how much you eat? You don't want your boundaries with T1D and yourself to be too loose, but you also don't want them to be too rigid. We will talk about how you can use boundaries to find the balance between good T1D management and your quality of life.
Next week in the second part of this series, we'll look at your boundaries with other people and your healthcare team around T1D.
Does T1D hold you back and keep you from doing what you want to do in your life? Does T1D make you feel stuck?
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL THIS WAY!
Click HERE to enroll in Get Unstuck with T1D, my 6-week program that will help you become more free, flexible, and confident in your life with T1D.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Describe what low blood sugar feels like. Describe it in detail. Describe it in a way that someone who has next had a low will understand.
It's not easy, is it?
Words are powerful. And when you find words to describe what you are experiencing with T1D, it grounds you. This is especially true for low blood sugars.
You know low blood sugars don't feel good, but you almost always fall back on vague descriptions when you try to describe what they feel like. Icky. Tired. Slow. While accurate, these words do not capture the whole experience of being low.
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I talk to Ginger Vieira and Mike Lawson. Ginger and Mike are the author and illustrator of When I Go Low, a book written for children with T1D to help them put words to what it's like to have low blood sugar. Ginger and Mike share what inspired them to write this book and how they hope it can make kids feel less alone in their lives with T1D.
Here's where you can find more information about When I Go Low:
- Buy When I Go Low
- Video of Ginger Reading When I Go Low
- Diabetes Doodles
Does T1D hold you back and keep you from doing what you want to do in your life? Does T1D make you feel stuck?
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL THIS WAY!
Click HERE to enroll in Get Unstuck with T1D, my 6-week program that will help you become more free, flexible, and confident in your life with T1D.
The only way to get unstuck with T1D is to move forward.
There are so many things that get in your way and keep you stuck with T1D. The big one is you put your emotions in charge of your behavior. You tell yourself you will start doing things differently when you feel a certain way.
You'll start managing T1D when you don't feel so burnt out. You'll start being open about T1D when you are not so self-conscious. You'll start asking for the support you need when you feel more confident. Your emotions are calling the shots.
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, I talk about how leading with action is the only way to get unstuck with T1D. If you wait until your emotions 'let' you act differently, you'll probably be waiting a long time. When you take charge and lead with your behavior, no matter how you feel can do whatever you want. And that is the definition of getting unstuck. On this episode, I give you steps you can take to start leading with action today!
Ready to get unstuck in your life with T1D? Click HERE to sign up for my 6-week digital program Get Unstuck with T1D. This program is your step-by-step guide to getting unstuck and becoming more free, flexible, and confident in your life with T1D.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Whether you know it or not, you have a relationship with your diabetes. You may hate T1D and want nothing to do with it. That is a relationship. You may do your best to ignore it. That’s a relationship too. And your relationship with T1D may be keeping you stuck.
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I talk about what it means to have a relationship with T1D. We’ll look at how your relationship with T1D develops and talk about some of the most common types of relationships people have with their diabetes. Finally, I’ll give you a framework to help you define what your relationship with T1D looks like right now.
Ready to get unstuck in your life with T1D? Click HERE to get your FREE guide on how to get unstuck and be more free and flexible in your life with T1D.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Diabetes burnout. It’s a term we throw around all the time.
But what does diabetes burnout really mean? And maybe even more importantly, what does diabetes NOT mean. There are many myths about burnout and T1D, and these myths are not doing us any favors.
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, I talk about five of the most common myths about diabetes burnout. I give you some background about where these myths come from and show you evidence that these myths are not valid. I’ll also give you some tips and resources to help you navigate T1D burnout.
Ready to get unstuck in your life with T1D? Click HERE to get your FREE guide on how to get unstuck and be more free and flexible in your life with T1D.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
There's no way around it. T1D is stressful All the work, the erratic blood sugars, the inconsiderate comments from people in your life are less than fun.
You can use this stress to your advantage!
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, we look at T1D-related stress from a whole new angle. First, we'll take a closer look at what stress is and what it is about T1D that causes stress. Then we'll talk about three specific ways you can turn the stress of T1D on its head, and use it to your advantage.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
People with T1D feel stuck.
T1D gets in the way and makes it difficult for you to do the things that are important to you. You feel like T1D holds you back, which only makes life with T1D even more stressful.
In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, I talk about what it means to feel stuck because of T1D and why feeling stuck is such a big challenge. Then I outline the four reasons why T1D is keeping you stuck.
For more information on how to get unstuck with T1D, go to www.thediabetespsychologist.com/getunstuck.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
We know mental health support should be an integral part of treatment for T1D. But what does this really mean?
If we only think about mental health support and treatment as sitting in a therapist's office once a week, we are doing everyone with T1D a great disservice. We have to get creative and think outside the box when addressing the mental health needs of people with T1D.
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, I talk about how we can reimagine mental health treatment support for people with T1D. I take a deep dive into what people with T1D really need and how they can get their mental health needs met without therapy.
Here are some of the resources I talked about in this episode:
Think Like a Pancreas
Bright Spots and Landmines
Taking Control of Your Diabetes
College Diabetes Network
Beyond Type 1
Tu Diabetes
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Have you ever thought that taking a medication for depression anxiety might help you, but then you thought again because you were worried about how these drugs might impact your blood sugars? Or maybe you don't like the thought of taking another medication, even if it could help you.
On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast, I talk to an expert about psych meds and T1D. My guest is Dr. Roy Collins. Dr. Roy is a resident physician at Stanford University, and he has been living with type 1 diabetes since he was 13 years old.
Dr. Roy answers all your questions about psych meds and type 1 diabetes, including when they might be right for you and how these medications impact your blood sugars. Dr. Roy also gives some great advice on how to find a psychiatrist who gets T1D.
You can find Dr. Roy on Instagram @dr.royc on on the web at www.roycollinsmd.com.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Telling someone you just started dating that you have T1D can be scary!
When do you tell someone you're dating that you have T1D?
People tend to overthink everything in new relationships. When to introduce your new partner to T1D can definitely be one of those things. You may worry they'll see you differently when they find out, or worse, the news you have T1D will extinguish any sparks they feel in the relationship.
The fact you have T1D probably won't bother most people you're dating. And if telling someone you have T1D makes them see you differently, the relationship probably has bigger issues.
In this episode, Genna talks about how, in the past, she has been self-conscious about telling the men she has dated that she has T1D. She just started dating someone and is looking for help with how to talk honestly about T1D with her new beau. Dr. Mark coaches Genna on how she can let her new boyfriend know that T1D is part of her life but not something that defines her.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Type 1 diabetes doesn't know race, it doesn't know your economic status, and it doesn't know where you are from.
We don't live in a bubble with T1D. Everyone living with T1D has a story, with different experiences and backgrounds they bring to their life with diabetes. Everybody's story is going to be different, and everybody's story matters.
In this episode, I talk to Brandon A. Denson about the unique mental health challenges for people with T1D from underserved communities. Brandon grew up in Detroit and walked on the Michigan State football team after being diagnosed with T1D when he was seventeen. He has made it his mission to ensure everyone with T1D has the education, support, and resources they need to thrive.
Brandon is a co-founder of Bolus Maximus, a non-profit organization focused on creating safe spaces for men and people from underserved communities who live with T1D.
You can find Brandon on Instagram @brandon.a.denson.
You can find Bolus Maximus on Instagram @bolus.maximus or on the web at https://www.bolusm.org. Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Resilience is the key to psychological health with T1D.
We all know that living with T1D is not always easy, and sometimes it can be downright challenging. We all want to strive to bounce back from these challenges and become stronger in the process.
My guest on this episode is Asha Brown. Asha is the Founder and Executive Director of We Are Diabetes, a non-profit organization that offers hope and support to people with T1D-related eating disorders. This episode is about so much more than eating disorders. It is full of lessons everyone with T1D can use to build a foundation of psychological strength and resilience
You can find out more about Asha and We Are Diabetes at www.wearediabetes.org.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Every time I give a presentation to people with T1D or health care providers, I start by talking about all the reasons why living with T1D is so stressful. I tell them about the constant work, the complex thinking involved, and the fact that there are no breaks and no vacations from T1D.
I describe T1D as having a second job.
This is a great story, and it captures some of the challenges of living with T1D. But I've realized that talking about T1D as a second job is the wrong way to characterize it. It makes life with T1D feel hopeless. Comparing T1D to a second job sets an expectation that you will always be stressed and that T1D has control over your life.
In this episode, Dr. Mark points out some downsides of talking about T1D like a job. Yes, T1D is going to be stressful at times. But Dr. Mark explains why talking about T1D as a job traps you into believing that diabetes must involve constant work and stress.
Then Dr. Mark suggests some other ways to think about T1D that are more realistic and better set you up for mental success.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
If you want to live well with T1D, you have to come to a place of acceptance.
Accepting T1D is a journey. Acceptance doesn't mean you like diabetes or that you want to have it. But it does mean putting your guard down and doing your best to live well with the hand you've been dealt. The opposite of acceptance is avoidance. And we all know avoiding diabetes never turns out well.
In this episode, Basma Adams talks about her journey to acceptance with T1D. When she was younger, Basma did everything she could to hide her diabetes from other people. She soon realized that hiding diabetes made her think about diabetes even more. Once she was able to accept diabetes, life got a whole lot easier for her. She found her passion and made T1D her superpower.
You can find Basma on Instagram @bastheboss. Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Why is managing type 1 diabetes important to you?
Answering this question is the key to holding yourself accountable with T1D.
Managing diabetes is a means to an end. Being healthy, lowering your A1c, and staying on your endo's good side are all great things to aim for, but they're probably not going to be enough to keep you motivated when things get rough. Instead, you need to figure out how managing diabetes will help get you to where you want to be in your life.
In this episode, Katelyn talks about her struggles with keeping herself accountable and pushing herself to lower her A1c. Dr. Mark coaches Katelyn on how she can change how she thinks about accountability by identifying the reasons why lowering her A1c is so important to her. Katelyn learns how she can use her 'why' as leverage to hold herself accountable for managing T1D.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Many people are looking forward to getting their COVID vaccine right now. They see this vaccine as their ticket to getting back to a normal life, where they can do things like visit friends, go out to eat, and go on vacation. Life in the COVID world makes us feel trapped. In many ways, life with T1D is no different. The stress of diabetes can also make us feel trapped. What if there was a vaccine for the stress of T1D?
Maybe one already exists!
In this episode, Dr. Mark walks you through the steps you can take to vaccinate yourself against the stress of T1D. While you can't always avoid stress with T1D, you can do things to make sure the stress doesn't impact your life.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
What do you do when your family doesn't understand the challenges of living with T1D?
We've all been there. You're cranky and irritable because your blood sugar is out-of-range. Your loved ones are annoyed with you because of the way you are treating them. When you try to explain what's going on, you don't have the words to describe how you feel. Then this tension leads to more misunderstanding and makes it difficult for your family to give you the support you need.
In this episode, you'll hear about the challenges Alex has had in getting the support he needs from his family around T1D. Then you'll hear Dr. Mark coach Alex on how he can help his family understand what life with T1D is like for him, so they can be better equipped to give him the support he needs.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
In this episode I talk about the biggest mistake I make as a psychologist working with people with T1D so you don't make the same mistake.
I don't know about you, but I like to try to fix problems. I have learned that sometimes T1D brings on challenges that don't have an easy solution. Every time I try to fix my patients' problems, it usually backfires.
So how do you avoid making the same mistake as me? In this episode, I walk you through a step-by-step process to help you:
- Figure out if there is a solution to your problem
- Let go of control if there is no quick fix
- Always keep the end goal in mind
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Type 1 diabetes should never be a do-it-yourself condition. People with T1D need support from the people in our lives. But getting the support you need, isn’t always easy. Your friends and family probably want to be supportive, but they may not know how.
On this episode, Dr. Mark gives 5 tips to help people with T1D get the support they need from their friends and family.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
In this episode, I talk to Lauren Salko about whether T1D should be considered a disability. Lauren has lived with T1D since she was young, and she competes as a professional skier on the US National Ski Team. Traveling internationally with her diabetes alert dog has given her an interesting perspective on looking at T1D as a disability.
In our conversation, Lauren explains why she considers T1D to be a disability and we explore how calling T1D a disability can impact mental health – both positively and negatively. I am not sure I completely agree with Lauren’s point of view, she definitely opened my mind to a new way of thinking about disability and T1D.
You can find Lauren on Instagram @skiersalko. Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Having a low blood sugar is no fun for anyone. But for some people with T1D, the thought of going low is terrifying. Fear of hypoglycemia is a condition where people with T1D keep their blood sugar high and avoid activities in order to avoid the possibility of going low. Not only does a fear of lows have a big impact on the person’s diabetes management, but it can also stand in the way of living their life.
In this episode, you’ll hear Oriana talk about how her fear of hypoglycemia is affecting her life. Then you’ll hear Dr. Mark coach Oriana on how she can implement strategies to bring her blood sugars back into her target range and gain the confidence she needs to deal with lows when they happen (and they will!).
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
In this episode, we talk to Mary Anderson about how using diabetes technology has impacted her mental health. Diagnosed with T1D in December of 2018 and dove into the world of diabetes tech right away and started using a CGM and a pump. After a while, her CGM started causing skin issues and she began feeling burnt out with the alarms. The tools that were supposed to make her life with T1D easier, were causing her stress.
Diabetes technology is awesome, but it does have some downsides. We need to be able to acknowledge the challenges of diabetes tech along with the benefits. Mary talks about how being flexible and finding the tools that work for her lifestyle have been the key for her emotional health with T1D. You can find Mary on Instagram @mary.type1. Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
When we think about T1D, our thoughts usually go to the negative. But, have you ever considered what type 1 diabetes (T1D) has brought to your life that you are grateful for?
Research shows that gratitude increases happiness and reduces stress and depression – which can help everyone with T1D. We focus so much on the challenges of living with T1D that often we don’t even notice the positives that can come from it.
In this episode, we talk about how practicing gratitude can help you create a sense of balance and peace with type 1 diabetes. Finding gratitude with T1D does not mean ignoring the challenges. It means seeing that diabetes comes with positives and negatives and that these things can exist at the same time.
Dr. Mark will guide you through a 4-step process to help you find gratitude in your life with T1D.
Step #1: Be open to the possibility there are things about T1D you can be grateful for.
Step #2: Be intentional about looking for things to be grateful for.
Step #3: Be specific about what you are grateful for. Find something that happened today, no matter how insignificant it may seem.
Step #4: Keep a T1D gratitude journal that you can refer back to.
Check out this blog post for more tips on finding gratitude with T1D: https://thediabetespsychologist.com/gratitude-with-t1d/
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
In this episode, we talk to Jen Hanson. Jen is the Executive Director of Connected in Motion (CIM). CIM works to create a culture of support & engagement in diabetes self-management through peer-based experiential diabetes education, sport, and outdoor adventure. Jen combines her love for the outdoors with her mission of improving the lives of people with T1D. Connecting with other people with T1D can be a powerful experience. When you connect with other people with T1D, you have the opportunity to feel ‘normal’ and to be around people who ‘get it.’ But the benefits of connection go far beyond having friends who support you. Jen shares how CIM fosters connections and how these connections push people with T1D to do things they may never have thought possible. You can find Jen on Instagram @j2hanson. Check out Connected In Motion’s website or follow them on Instagram @connectedinmotion and Facebook @ConnectedinMotion. Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Mindfulness is a word that gets thrown around a lot, but what does it really mean? More importantly, what does mindfulness have to do with T1D? In this episode, we’ll talk all about mindfulness and T1D. Dr. Mark will give you four things you can do today to start incorporating mindfulness into your diabetes management routine.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
Diabetes technology is a real game-changer. But can you get too much of a good thing?
In this episode, you’ll hear Dr. Mark help Rob with his T1D tech burnout. Rob will talk about his stress related to using his insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor to manage T1D. Then you’ll hear Dr. Mark work with Rob to help him shift his mindset so he can use diabetes technology without getting overwhelmed and burned out.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
In this episode, we talk to Dr. Calvin Wu, an endocrinologist at Steady Health. Calvin is a big advocate for integrating mental health care into treatment for T1D. He recognizes the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach to medical care. He appreciates that diabetes is a highly personal disease that can touch or be touched by nearly every facet of life. Endocrinologists play a significant part in helping you manage T1D, but often they never ask about the emotional burden of T1D. Calvin offers us some insights as to why mental health issues often are not addressed by endocrinologists, and gives us some great suggestions on how to get the support you need from your health care team. You can find out more about Steady Health at www.steady.health or on Instagram @steady.health.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
In this episode, you’ll get to know The Diabetes Psychologist. Dr. Mark Heyman talks about his diabetes story and about his work. You’ll hear about the types of patients he sees, how he thinks about diabetes and mental health, and how living with T1D impacts his work.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
This is the final episode of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D. In this episode, we talk to Heather Cobb about how the time and effort involved in the logistics of managing diabetes in the US affected her mental health. Heather has been living with T1D for 16 years. A passionate public health advocate, Heather served in the Peace Corps in El Salvador. The US healthcare system is a huge source of stress for people with T1D. Dealing with your insurance company, ordering supplies, and paying for insulin all add to the emotional burden of managing T1D 24/7. Heather shares her story about how she moved to Portugal because the stress of dealing with the US healthcare system got to be too much. Heather offers some great advice on how to deal with the stress of navigating the healthcare system - even if picking up and moving out of the country isn’t an option for you!
You can read more about Heather's international journey with Type 1 diabetes here and you can follow her on Instagram @la_surfista_diabetica.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
This is Episode 5 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D. In this episode, we talk about how T1D can fuel guilt and shame with Christina Burbelo. Christina was diagnosed with T1D a little over 15 years ago. And in the years since, she has struggled with guilt and shame because of T1D. She has found that writing and the online diabetes community have helped her through the ups and downs of living with T1D. So many people with T1D experience guilt and shame. You may feel guilty because you are not doing everything you are ‘supposed’ to be doing to manage diabetes. You may feel shame because you’re having a hard time dealing with the stress of T1D, and you think you ‘shouldn’t’ be feeling this way. Guilt and shame are an added burden to the everyday challenges of living with type 1 diabetes. Christina tells us about how her guilt and shame about T1D sparked her burn out, led to her being admitted to the ICU for DKA. She talks about how being more open about her struggles and the power of community have led her to a healthier place, both mentally and physically. You can find Christina on Instagram @stainedinblue and @stina.burbelo. Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
This is Episode 4 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D. In this episode, we talk about the relationship between anxiety and T1D with Alexi Melvin. Alexi was diagnosed with T1D 17 years ago when she was 14. She is the Chair of Beyond Type 1 Leadership Council Content Committee and is passionate about being a voice for people living with T1D everywhere. Anxiety is common in people with T1D. Living with T1D is full of ‘what ifs’ - ‘What if my blood sugar goes low during my presentation?’, ‘What if people think I’m weird?’, ‘What if I develop complications?’. If these worries get out of control, they can affect your behavior, quality of life, and your blood sugars. Alexi tells us how anxiety around T1D has affected her life and what she has found helpful in managing her anxiety. The key takeaway is running from anxiety doesn’t make it go away - in fact, it usually makes it worse. You can find Alexi on Instagram @alexienergyart.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
This is Episode 3 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D. In this episode, we talk to Adelina Pink about the mental health challenges of being diagnosed with T1D as an adult. Adelina was diagnosed with T1D in March 2019 when she was 31 years old, and she runs Project NEWBET1C, a non-profit funded by online sales of apparel designed by fellow Type 1s that helps newly diagnosed T1Ds get access to helpful educational resources. A T1D diagnosis it tough at any age, but being diagnosed as an adult comes with some unique challenges. Adelina talks about how, with the support of the T1D community, she has faced these challenges head-on and come away stronger. You can find Adelina on Instagram @t1daddy. Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
This is Episode 2 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D. In this episode, we talk about feeling alone and isolated with diabetes with Michel Godbout. Michel recently retired as an elementary school teacher in Ontario, Canada and has been living with T1D for 42 years. T1D should never be a do-it-yourself condition. Living with T1D is challenging, and it’s even more difficult when you don’t have support from other people. Michel was alone with T1D for many years. He hid that he had diabetes from many of his friends and coworkers. Even his family didn’t know how much he was struggling. This all changed after Michel had a serious car accident because of a severe low blood sugar. He had to open up about his diabetes, and he was shocked by the outpouring of support he got. Michel tells us his story about how getting support and becoming involved in the diabetes community changed his life. He shares some great tips on how people with T1D can get the support they need. Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
This is Episode 1 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D. In this episode, we talk about diabetes burnout with David Mina. David is the digital creator behind TYPE1LIVABETIC on Instagram and has been living with T1D for over 11 years. Diabetes burnout is a state in which someone with T1D grows tired of managing their condition, and then simply ignores it for some time, or worse, forever. Although we don’t like to admit it, diabetes burnout is a normal part of living with T1D. Managing T1D is a 24/7 job, with no breaks, so experiencing burnout is to be expected sometimes. David gives us some great strategies you can use to take care of yourself when burnout hits. You may not be able to avoid diabetes burnout, but you can find ways to minimize the impact of burnout on your life. You can find David on Instagram @type1livabetic.
Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.
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