Having diabetes is not the end of the world. You can still live as you like. Let go of the guilt with this helpful tips.
Letting Go of Guilt When You Have Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes type 2 is a very frequent condition in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it affects 13% of all adults in the country (CDC).
Because of the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, public health efforts have been launched to reduce cases and assist persons with the disease in managing their condition through dietary and lifestyle changes.
While these programs are meant to be beneficial, they can occasionally make patients with type 2 diabetes feel bad.
Guilt can arise from the belief that you contributed to the disease’s onset or that you are not doing enough to manage it. This, in turn, can have an impact on your mental health and make it more difficult to care for yourself, so it’s critical to discover strategies to deal.
Here’s what you need to know about guilt and type 2 diabetes, as well as how to deal with it.
What’s the connection between guilt and type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes can have an impact on your emotional well-being as well as your physical health.
A look back at 2017.
According to a trusted source of 55 studies, 36% of patients with type 2 diabetes report distress as a result of their condition. Diabetes pain is frequently accompanied by emotions of guilt and shame.
That study confirmed the outcomes of a 2013 studyTrusted Source that included 25 persons with type 2 diabetes. Self-blame and emotions of guilt were shown to be widespread among the 25 individuals in the study. It was dubbed the “blame and shame disease” by one participant.
There are several reasons why a person with type 2 diabetes may feel guilty about their disease.
Part of it could be due to the disease’s stigma.
According to a 2017 study of over 12,000 persons with the condition, 52 percent of people with type 2 diabetes felt stigmatized by the disease.
Others, according to some participants, blamed them for producing the disease by eating too much, having a poor diet, not exercising enough, and being overweight or obese.
Feeling guilty about not doing enough to manage type 2 diabetes is common.
When your doctor asks how your diabetes treatment is doing, if your hemoglobin A1C is too high, or if the number on the scale isn’t where you’d like it to be if you’re trying to lose weight, you might feel it.
Understanding the source of your guilt can help you take steps to alleviate it.
Related: Affirmations for Protection
How does guilt affect your health?
Diabetes can have an emotional influence on your health.
A look ahead to 2019.
Diabetes discomfort, which includes feelings of guilt, was described as “one of the most common and important psychosocial barriers to effective diabetes care” by a reputable source.
According to 2018Trusted Source research, emotional distress caused by diabetes can lead to:
- lower quality of life
- higher risk of diabetes complications
- difficulty following treatment plans
- poor glycemic management
- poor self-care
According to a 2017 studyTrusted Source, people with diabetes are three times more likely than the general population to develop a serious depressive disorder, owing to diabetes misery and the emotions of stress and shame it produces.
Previous research
According to a reliable source, depression can make managing type 2 diabetes more challenging.
Diabetes and depression participants included:
- more likely to smoke
- less likely to exercise
- less likely to get an annual dilated eye exam
Type 2 diabetes, if left untreated, can lead to major health consequences and even death.
Finding techniques to alleviate guilt can make it simpler to protect your health against the long-term effects of this condition.
How to let go of diabetes guilt
People with type 2 diabetes frequently experience feelings of guilt. Fortunately, there are methods to deal with that emotion – or perhaps let it go entirely.
This is how.
1. Understand the facts about diabetes
A lot of the guilt-inducing stigmas stem from a misunderstanding of diabetes. Learning how the disease works and how it can affect you over time will help you have a better grasp of the realities of living with it.
It’s crucial to remember that type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease, which means it can worsen with time.
That means that the things you’re doing now to manage the condition may not work as well in the future, and you may need to adjust your diabetes treatment strategy.
You may, for example, need to begin using insulin at some point. This is a natural evolution and not an indication that you done something wrong. The ultimate goal is to have your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible, which includes changing your treatment strategy.
Learning the facts about what causes diabetes can also help lessen feelings of self-blame and guilt.
Type 2 diabetes can be caused by a variety of causes outside of your control, such as genes and biological variables (like insulin production and patterns of body fat deposition).
Keeping the truth in mind can help you let go of your guilt.
Related: Affirmations For Mental Health And Well Being
2. Set realistic goals
Making lifestyle changes can help you manage your diabetes, whether you’re attempting to lose weight, increase your physical activity, quit smoking, or change your diet.
However, if you do not get the desired objectives, you may experience feelings of guilt and failure. Keeping your goals realistic will help you achieve long-term success.
As an example, consider exercising.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesReliable Source suggests exercising for at least 30 minutes five days a week. If you’re just starting out, that amount of physical activity might be tough to achieve and can leave you feeling bad if you don’t accomplish the target.
Set a smaller, more attainable aim instead. That could imply attempting to get outside for a 10-minute stroll every day for the following month.
As you achieve your objectives, gradually increase your physical activity. To overcome feelings of guilt, remind yourself of the effort you’re putting in along the road.
3. Practice mindfulness
According to 2011Trusted Source research, people with diseases characterized by excessive shame and guilt can benefit from mindfulness, particularly when training emphasizes self-compassion and acceptance.
Mindfulness activities enable you to explore your ideas and sensations without being judged.
Finding techniques to stay in the present moment can aid in breaking the shame cycle that frequently accompanyes guilt. That could involve simply focusing on your breath for a few minutes and observing the thoughts that arise.
You could also attempt guided meditation that focuses on self-compassion.
Dr. Kristin Neff, co-founder of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, has a series of free guided meditations available online to help you get started.
4. Try affirmations for diabetes
Affirmations are positive phrases that you tell yourself on a daily basis. Positive self-talk can help to eliminate negative thinking and focus your brain on something beneficial, thereby relieving guilt.
As you search for a supporting affirmation, consider words that are particularly relevant to you or assist you get into the mindset of how you want to feel.
Here are some examples of diabetic affirmations to try:
- I trust my body.
- I’m the expert on my body.
- I’m doing my best.
- Taking care of myself is easy.
- I deserve to feel healthy.
- I enjoy exercising.
- I believe I can succeed.
These simple phrases can redirect your attention away from emotions of guilt or inadequacy and toward attaining your objectives.
5. Work with a therapist
A therapist or mental health expert can help you on your path to overcoming diabetic shame. They can assist you in developing techniques to combat your guilt-related ideas and feelings.
Living with a chronic disease, such as diabetes, can cause stress, which can lead to feelings of guilt and other bad emotions. Taking care of your mental health is an important element of self-care.
Conclusion
Many persons with type 2 diabetes are ashamed of their disease. You may believe that you did anything to trigger your diabetes or that you are not doing enough to keep it under control.
Guilt can be a hindrance to diabetes control, therefore it’s critical to develop strategies to deal.
Understanding the facts about the disease, practicing mindfulness, and saying diabetic affirmations are all methods to begin letting go of guilt.
Working with a mental health expert can also assist you in developing personalized methods for dealing with guilt and stress.
