Learning to Cope with Common Diabetes Fears

A diagnosis of diabetes can be very frightening. Whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, you face the prospect of side effects and complications from the disease. You may also worry about medications you may need to take, changes in diet and exercise.

While you cannot change a diabetes diagnosis, you can change the way you deal with it to alleviate your fears. Here are some of the most common fears associated with diabetes and recommendations on how to deal with them.

Fear of needles

Diabetes fear of needles (fear of needles clinically is called trypanophobia.) is common. When diabetes fear of needles results in anxiety, it can deter you from getting an injection. If you need insulin injections daily the issue is problematic. Fear of needles can result in:[1]

·         feeling dizzy and light-headed

·         a dry mouth

·         palpitations

·         sweating

·         trembling

·         over-breathing

·         feeling sick

·         even fainting

Coping with diabetes fear of needles involves building confidence and gaining relaxation skills. Create a ‘fear hierarchy,” which involves establishing a series of actions to help alleviate your fear, such as holding the insulin syringe or pen in your hand until the fear subsides.

Relaxation techniques include sitting comfortably in a chair, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath for 3 seconds. Breathe out as fully as possible for a count of 5 seconds. Repeat this sequence for two more breaths and exhale for 5 seconds.[2]

Fear of hypoglycemia

Worrying about hypoglycemia or low blood sugar is another common concern among diabetics.  If you suffer from fear of hypoglycemia, you may worry if your blood sugar dips and what to do when symptoms come on – sweating, shaking, getting confused.  A fear of hypoglycemia may result in you keeping blood sugars too high to avoid the onset or restrict exercise fearing it will bring it on.

Consult with your medical team and make sure you are following the right diet, exercise and correct medication dosage to ease fear of hypoglycemia.

Fear of diabetes complications

The risk of long-term complications from diabetes is real. They include:

Heart disease: People living with Type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop and die from cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks, strokes and heart failure, than people who don’t have diabetes., says the American Heart Association.[3] This is because high blood sugar damages heart blood vessels and nerves.

Chronic kidney disease: In the United States about 1 in 3 people with diabetes have diabetic nephropathy, which is chronic kidney disease (CKD).  [4]It occurs because diabetes damages blood vessels and other cells in the kidneys that filter waste from blood. This can lead to kidney damage and high blood pressure.

Peripheral neuropathy: Over time, high blood glucose levels or blood sugar, and high levels of fats in the blood from diabetes can damage nerves. When this happens, the nervous system’s signaling can no longer function correctly.

Diabetic Retinopathy: The condition occurs when high blood sugar damages blood vessels in the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer of cells in the back of the eye.  The damaged blood vessels can swell and leak. The result is blurry vision or blood flow stops. New blood vessels may grow, but they are not normal and can cause further vision problems. The condition usually affects both eyes.

Avoid these complications by managing your glucose levels and making other necessary lifestyle changes such as losing weight, following the proper diet, exercising and managing stress.  Also, keep in mind as part of regular medical screening, your doctors will screen for these conditions, which can be treated if detected early and managed.

Worry about taking medications

Many hate the idea of taking pills and, even worse, administering shots. If you have Type 1 diabetes, however, you will need to take insulin. Type 2 mediations probably will require oral medications and eventually you may need to move on to injections.

Worrying about taking medications and worse, denying the need for them, has serious consequences. Think of the positive effects of keeping your diabetes under control and enabling you to maintain a healthy, active life.

Worry about changing food habits

Concern over changes in eating habits is common when you receive a diabetes diagnosis. You may worry about what to eat and what not to eat and whether you need to give up your favorite foods. The goal is to emphasize what is good for you to eat and minimize unhealthy foods. Your diet should focus on fruits and veggies and whole foods and minimize fast foods and sugary snacks.

Work with your medical team to come up with a meal plan that you can follow and still enjoy food. Also learn how to read labels and how you will need to adjust your insulin or other diabetes medication you take to cover what you consume.

Diabetes is a serious disease and should be treated as such. But you should not let fear get you down or worse interfere with managing your lifestyle to keep your diabetes under control. Fear and anxiety will undermine your efforts to maintain a happy and productive life even with a chronic disease.