Diabetes & Mental Health
Today we are going to change gears a bit.
Let’s talk about something that is just recently becoming less taboo: mental health.
Usually when people think of mental health, they mostly focus on the psychological aspect…but did you know that your mental health can impact your physical wellbeing? I personally find that even my DIABETES is affected by factors like moods, stress, anxiety, anger, happiness, fear, etc. (crazy, right?) Who would have thought that something that seems to be “in our heads” can impact our actual bodies?!
It is so important for me to know the various affects that different mental health factors can have on my glucose levels so that I can make insulin adjustments if necessary. But just how would one even know how to analyze such data when it all seems unmeasurable? I mean you could prick your finger every minute (1440 times in a day), to see if you notice a glucose level change as your mental health varies lol, but who’s got time, money and/or enough glucose monitor strips for that? (Not me). The most practical way that I have found to help me identify such trends, is by using my continuous glucose monitor (CGM). The FreeStyle Libre 2 system not only alerts* me when my glucose levels are high or low, but also provides glucose readings every minute1, with trends and graphs so I can visibly see what my levels are doing in relation to my current mental state.
I started to notice that when I ended the workday with a ton of stress, my glucose would usually trend high on my FreeStyle Libre 2 reader graph throughout the night. So, I started implementing ways to destress and decompress at the end of the day, like soaking in a nice bubble bath† with relaxing music, to help me combat the effects of stress on my diabetes.
Mental health plays a huge role in my diabetes management. I challenge you to identify the patterns with your diabetes in correlation to your mental health and find ways to make lifestyle adjustments where necessary!
Interested in trying FreeStyle Libre 2 system yourself? Head to http://www.myfreestyle.us to see if you’re eligible to try it for free‡.
References
*Notifications will only be received when alarms are turned on and the sensor is within 20 feet of the reading device
1.FreeStyle Libre 2 User’s Manual
†Sensor is water-resistant in up to 1 meter (3 feet) of water. Do not immerse longer than 30 minutes.
‡Eligible patients will receive one (1) FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor and reader at $0 copay. The expiration date of the voucher is 60 days from the issue date. Limit one offer per lifetime. This program is not available for patients with gestational diabetes. Only patients 4 and older are eligible to receive an offer. This offer is void where prohibited by law. Abbott may modify or rescind this offer at any time without notice. The discounts are not available to beneficiaries of Medicare, Medicaid or other federal or state healthcare programs or residents of Massachusetts, Puerto Rico and other US territories. The free sensor and reader are provided as a sample and is limited to one NDC per eligible person. The sensor and reader cannot be re-sold, traded nor submitted to any third party payer for reimbursement and is not provided as any inducement for future purchases. The free sample card is not health insurance.
