Type I Diabetes: The Psychological Effect

Type I diabetes is normally diagnosed in children and young adults. Until recently you may have heard this referred to as "juvenile diabetes."

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are an estimated 23.6 million diagnosed diabetics in the United States. Of this enormous number, only 5-10% has Type I diabetes.

The cause of Type I diabetes is when the body does not produce insulin. The pancreas has stopped working properly and is no longer producing insulin. Insulin is a hormone that converts sugar (glucose), starches and other food into energy the body needs to function.

Those are all the facts and figures regarding the disease of Type I diabetes, but once diagnosed, what really happens to your body and mind?

Diabetes is a complicated disease. It is not only a disease complicated with mathematical calculations, it's a disease that, if allowed, will put a person on a roller coaster of emotions.

When first diagnosed the "denial devil" will jump on the newbie's shoulder. This is common in anyone who hears a doctor tell them they have a life threatening disease, such as diabetes. For newly diagnosed diabetics, this time will include "going through the motions" of the disease.

The first motion is the learning curve. The learning associated with diabetes, is fast and furious; which starts out with learning what a glucometer is and how to operate it, counting carbohydrates, the difference in hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, foot care, dental care, eye care, and don't forget the food pyramid (that's right, the one we all learned about it in the 5^th grade!) A sudden rush of feeling controlled by the "food pyramid" will come over the newbie and most likely push them straight to the opposite end of the spectrum and headed straight for the chocolate cake!

It is common to deny the fact of having diabetes, but only for a very short time. (Emphasis placed on a short time.) If the health care provider administered insulin and prescribed insulin, the body will react to the injection. The body will no longer feel tired, sluggish, or irritable, it will feel wonderful!

During this denial stage the newbie's mind is overwhelmed. Their body feels better and their mind is telling them nothing is wrong. No one wants to be told they have a debilitating disease that will be with them the rest of their lives. Once the mind catches up and all the learning starts to make a little bit of sense, the outcome is generally a good one. The pieces of the puzzle start coming together.

Anger may creep in just behind denial. A newly diagnosed diabetic will typically be angry at the world. The "why me" and "leave me alone" statements will become part of their everyday language.

Why are diabetics so angry at first? That's a relatively easy question to answer. They have been told something is wrong with them, something they "think" is uncontrollable and entirely too much trouble to handle. They don't want to measure and count all the food they eat, they don't want to be seen as "needy" and they definitely don't want to be told what to do or when to do it. Type I diabetics are on a tight schedule. Insulin, in the man-made form, is time sensitive! A day-in-the-life of a Type I diabetic is being told what to do and when to do it.

If the chosen method of insulin delivery is an insulin pump, they now have a contraption attached to them 23 out of 24 hours a day. This new appendage, according the medical provider is saving their life. They see no choice in the matter, but as human beings, we like choices. Most people don't carry their cell phones on them 23 hours a day! Try sleeping with your cell phone taped to you; it's quite annoying! This is the same principle as wearing an insulin pump.

If all this isn't enough to make the newbie's mind continue denying the fact that they have Type I Diabetes, here comes anxiety!

At first, most newbie's may not want to leave the house. They may even put work or play on hold, depending on their age. Newly diagnosed diabetics don't want the world to know they are a diabetic! To them, it's a curse! It means they can't go to lunch with the office crowd and have pie for desert or go out for a drink after work.

Family vacations may be put on hold, camping trips for younger newbie's may get cancelled, or a young adult may end a relationship... why?.... anxiety! The newbie, at this point, will not understand the disease well enough to explain it to friends, co-workers, or a loved one.

These are the psychological effects of being told you have a disease that has no cure.

If you are the friend, parent, loved one, spouse, or significant other of someone who has been diagnosed with Type I diabetes, these are the a few phases that your loved one will go through. If the psychological side-effects persist, a good therapist may be needed.

Diabetes is a manageable disease and an uncomplicated life can reveal itself.

source: American Diabetes Association