For People with Diabetes:

Stress Management

Not all stress is created equal. Stress can come from good news or events (like winning the lottery or getting married), bad news or events (like finding out you have diabetes or experiencing the loss of a loved one), and also from chronic problems (like an ongoing conflict or having to manage diabetes every day).

If you have recently been told you have diabetes or have been living with diabetes for a while, you may be feeling down or overwhelmed by all you must do to manage your health. These feelings and reactions are perfectly normal, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek help to talk about your feelings and to learn how to manage or relieve stress so you are better able to take care of yourself. Stress can have an effect on blood sugar levels, so it’s important to identify what is causing you stress and figure out what you can do to reduce stress.

For many people, learning how to relax, learning different ways to cope, and making some lifestyle changes can help reduce stress. Talk to your doctor. He or she may have other suggestions and be able to refer you to help in your area.

Visit these sites for more information:
American Academy of Family Physicians - Stress: How to Cope Better with Life's Challenges
American Diabetes Association - Stress
American Hearth Association - How Can I Manage Stress (pdf)
American Psychological Association - The Different Kinds of Stress
Mayo Clinic - Stress Symptoms and Signs
The Cleveland Clinic - Ten Ways to Ease Stress
The Cleveland Clinic - Ten Ways to Ease Stress (Spanish)
WebMD - Diabetes: Stress Management