Empathy and Understanding: Conversations on Diabetes Stress #31
The salient theme of this podcast episode revolves around the psychological stress associated with a diabetes diagnosis, an aspect that often receives insufficient attention. Deborah recently engaged in a discussion with a gentleman named Coach Ken, who illuminated the mental and emotional challenges faced by individuals upon receiving such a life-altering diagnosis. This conversation prompted Deborah to reflect on her own experience, having been diagnosed at a tender age, which ingrained diabetes into her identity from the outset. However, she acknowledges the unique psychological burdens that others may experience, particularly those diagnosed later in life, and the impact of stress on overall health and blood sugar regulation. As we navigate these complexities, she remains committed to fostering understanding and support within our community, ensuring that we address both the physical and psychological dimensions of living with diabetes.
The discourse presented in this podcast episode unfolds a profound exploration of the psychological ramifications that accompany a diabetes diagnosis. Deborah engaged in a heartfelt dialogue with Coach Ken, a (future) guest whose experiences shed light on an often-overlooked facet of living with diabetes: the psychological stress that can ensue upon receiving such a diagnosis. The conversation delves into the emotional turbulence that individuals may encounter, particularly when they grapple with the permanence of a chronic illness. Through Deborah’s own reflections on being diagnosed at a tender age, she articulates the complex relationship between identity and health, emphasizing that while diabetes is a significant aspect of her life, it does not wholly define her existence. The insights gleaned from this episode are not merely anecdotal; they resonate with the broader understanding of how psychological well-being is inexorably linked to physical health, particularly in the realm of chronic illness management.
"As far as for me, I was diagnosed with diabetes so young that it was like diabetes became a part of my identity ." - Deborah [04:42]
Moreover, the dialogue extends to encompass how psychological stress can influence physiological outcomes, such as blood sugar levels. This is a connection that merits further exploration within the context of diabetes management. The narrative invites listeners to consider the multifaceted nature of health, where emotional states can significantly impact one’s ability to maintain optimal health.
- The psychological stress associated with a diabetes diagnosis is often underestimated and overlooked.
- Deborah highlights the significance of understanding how stress impacts both type 1 and type 2 diabetes management.
- Deborah reflects on her own experience with diabetes and the difference between identity and diagnosis.
We also preview future discussions with guests like Ollie, who will contribute additional perspectives on maintaining health and well-being, thus enriching the conversation around diabetes and mental health. This episode serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of addressing both the psychological and physical aspects of living with diabetes. This aids in fostering a community of understanding and support among those navigating similar challenges.
Chapters
- 01:55 Welcome to DiabeticReal
- 02:26 Understanding the Psychological Impact of Diabetes
- 04:38 Understanding Diabetes: A Personal Perspective
- 06:20 Understanding Psychological Stress and Chronic Illness
- 08:46 Understanding Psychological Stress in Diabetes
- 10:49 Closing Remarks and Farewell
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Episode Credits
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- 🎵 Perfectly Wonderful World 🎵 sung by Deborah E (written by Denny Martin & Jaimee Paul ; mastered @ Seaside Records ). Available: Spotify | Apple | Amazon
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01:55 - Welcome to DiabeticReal
02:26 - Understanding the Psychological Impact of Diabetes
04:38 - Understanding Diabetes: A Personal Perspective
06:20 - Understanding Psychological Stress and Chronic Illness
08:46 - Understanding Psychological Stress in Diabetes
10:49 - Closing Remarks and Farewell
Deborah E
Okay, everybody, welcome to DiabeticReal. And I'm your host, Deborah. Glad to have you back here. I hope you all had a wonderful week, a wonderful couple weeks. I did.I interviewed a gentleman by the name of Ken. And I would pronounce his last name, but I'm not sure if I'll pronounce it correctly. So I will let him introduce himself in the upcoming episode.And you know, one of the things that he said that was brought to my attention was about the psychological stress that can be brought to people when they're diagnosed with diabetes or dealing with just finding out they have diabetes. And I hadn't ever thought about that. I know it's one of those things you want to do if you ever watch NCIS, the Gibbs slap upside the head.You might need to watch like earlier versions of that show. But we talk about that. My husband and I joke about that. Hey, the Gibbs slap. But anyway, it's like, duh, you know, the psychological stress.I want to smack myself saying, okay, I don't believe in violence, but what is, why didn't I think of that? It seems so obvious. And we talked about that a little bit.As far as for me, I was diagnosed with diabetes so young that it was like diabetes became a part of my identity. I mean, I am more than just the diabetes. And I stress that that I'm not Deborah the diabetic, and yet I am Deborah the one who has diabetes.So there is a difference in that. But I guess I never thought about that stress because, yes, I was a bit sad at six years old when I found out I had diabetes.And my mom explained, you know, it's not like a cold or flu, it's going to go away. You were going to have this the rest of your life.I remember that moment and I was very sad, I think shocked was the word, because as a six-year-old trying to fathom the rest of my life, that was just bigger than I understood at six years old. But definitely talking with Ken, I do understand the concept of psychological stress.I mean, hey, as I mentioned before, one class away from my doctorate in psychology, I do understand that also. Another guest that you're going to hear from, his name is Ollie. And we talked about the stress factor and how that affects.That can affect type 1 or type 2 can affect many different chronic illnesses and so forth as far as the effect of stress itself. So that definitely psychological stress is something that affects, for instance, your blood sugars.So why not finding out about being diagnosed as having diabetes? Yes, that's going to cause some issues. So that is something that the awareness of that it was mind blowing.I mean, not mind blowing, like, oh, wow, I can't understand that. Of course I can understand that because I've had psychological stress.It just so happens that I didn't have psychological stress in the area of being diagnosed with diabetes. I imagine it's because I was so young. It was just something that I had to just accept and oh, that's my life and let's go on with life.But that doesn't mean that I didn't have or I haven't had psychological stress in other areas and other psychological stress has not affected my diabetes because it has. We as humans, we definitely have opportunities for psychological stress, don't we? Am I right?So it has really gotten me thinking about that stress component and specifically that concern for my fellow diabetics, especially my fellow type 1 diabetics, because I understand type 1 so well and the concerns about type 1, my fellow type 1ers and the stress that they go through as they're diagnosed. A real empathy, if you will, for those struggling with it.I can't imagine firsthand being diagnosed later in life because I don't know exactly know what that's like because I was so young, but yet I can imagine because I understand Taiwan. If you want to speak to someone who has gone through that, yes, Coach Ken as a column does understand that because he was, he was on in years.I mean, not on in years like senior citizen, but he was not six years old. So he will be our guest coming up in one of the future episodes.And again, Ollie will be one of our future guests and he will be talking about some other very important aspects of keeping ourselves healthy.So this was a very quick kind of check in episode and also letting you know about some people that will be sharing their insights on health and insights that will help us with diabetes, whether you're type 2 or type 1, and helping any and all of us deal with our mental health, our psychological health and just helping us to understand life and approach to life so we can support each other. Right? All right, hugs to all of you wherever you're at and I will catch you in the next episode of DiabeticReal. Love you all.This is Deborah signing off.
