How does anyone understand the complexities of diabetes? Isn’t it as simple as following a routine? Unfortunately not! The emotional roller coaster that is diabetes abounds every which way you look. There are many reasons people with diabetes seem to have emotional problems. Some individuals have legitimate mental health issues, and if you are having…… Continue reading Family Conflict: Frustration or Blood Sugars
Category: Psychotherapy
Diabetes: Walk In My Shoes!
Diabetes is a complicated illness to live with and even more burdensome to explain. Issues that loved ones have trouble understanding are vast and complex. So complex that is not possible to address all of them in one blog. Over the next few blogs, we will look at some of the most common ones that tend…… Continue reading Diabetes: Walk In My Shoes!
Success With Diabetes?
A lot of people living with diabetes have a tendency to blame themselves when things go wrong with their diabetes. There is so much pressure from doctors, parents and ourselves that we tend to internalize and equate how successful we are as individuals with how well we manage our diabetes. Diabetes can become the focus…… Continue reading Success With Diabetes?
Extreme Blood Sugars & Managing Emotions
They are quiet, often sneak up on you, cause tons of frustration, and can lead to low self-esteem, arguments, relationship and diabetes burnout. What can have such a devastating impact but be so hard to notice at first? If you saw my last blog you know I am talking about micro-trauma (mini-trauma.) It is the…… Continue reading Extreme Blood Sugars & Managing Emotions
Dealing With Doctor Appointments
The other day I got to thinking about how I needed to see my general practitioner. It has been about nine months since I last saw her, and she wanted to see me three months ago. I conveniently forgot to put it on my phone. There is nothing convenient about it. Why do you ask?…… Continue reading Dealing With Doctor Appointments
Finding Acceptance!
Hmmm! What is Acceptance? Do I accept that I have diabetes or am I living in denial? It’s a hard question to answer. If you were in denial by its definition, you wouldn’t know if you were. You only find out when you are out of it. Crazy right. Denial is the reverse of acceptance.…… Continue reading Finding Acceptance!
Living Life On Diabetes Terms
How tight are you holding on to the rules of living with diabetes? Believe it or not! There are many shades of grays while living with diabetes. Unfortunately, many people living with diabetes feel it has to be all or nothing when it comes to good diabetes management. I talked previously about high or even…… Continue reading Living Life On Diabetes Terms
Change, Deceit & Diabetes
36 years ago in the hospital, I had just turned six years old and was diagnosed that same day with Juvenile diabetes. The doctor was nice! After being diagnosed, I learned that I could die. I put up a good front in those days. It looked like I accepted the diagnosis and dealt with the…… Continue reading Change, Deceit & Diabetes
Balancing the chemical equation: Diabetes & Mental Wellness!
For patients with both diabetes and a psychiatric disorder, resolving your mental health issues is vital to managing your diabetes care. For some people medication is necessary; for others, holistic practices like meditation and yoga help. Sometimes it’s a combination of the two. Just about everyone can benefit from weekly or biweekly therapy sessions. But…… Continue reading Balancing the chemical equation: Diabetes & Mental Wellness!
Diabetes: Don't tell me what to do!
A few years back, a parent came to me in crisis. The parent’s fifteen-year-old daughter, Kristen, was struggling to care for herself, and didn’t seem to care. Kirsten was failing school, on the verge of being held back, not checking her blood sugar or taking her insulin consistently, and contemplating suicide. Kristen had Oppositional Defiant…… Continue reading Diabetes: Don't tell me what to do!
Parenting Children with Diabetes 