An overlooked epidemic affecting millions

“There is a two-way relationship between diabetes and mental illness,” says Dr. Praveen Alashir, consultant psychologist at Renai Medicity. He added that people with diabetes have a higher risk of developing mental illness and vice versa.

According to him, the emotional and financial burden of managing a chronic disease has a significant impact on mental health. Many patients even face terminal sleep insomnia.

“This constant fatigue, combined with constant vigilance to manage diabetes, increases the risk of depression and anxiety and impairs cognitive function and decision-making ability,” Praveen says.

“It's stressful to manage.”

Diabetes was primarily a disease of the elderly, and there was a time when it affected people over the age of 55. But today the scenario has changed. Health experts say early detection and an unhealthy lifestyle (processed foods and readily available foods) can lead to the diagnosis even in young people.

Dr. Arun B. Nehru, professor of psychiatry at the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram, recalls a patient he met recently.

“He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 15. His academic excellence was well known among his friends, parents, and school. But after his diagnosis, he suffered from sleepless nights and depression. '' says Arun.

His journey began not only with an insulin injection, but also with an overwhelming fear of losing his life. Medication and hearing the experiences of people who have triumphed despite their diagnosis helped him manage his fears. “His story is a reminder that the health journey is as much about healing the mind as it is about taking care of the body,” says Arun.

The boy's type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. “It’s especially stressful to manage because the levels fluctuate,” adds Arun. Long-term diabetics suffer from frequent awakenings and find their sleep shallow. This is also a chronic disease that results from chemical changes in the brain.

“Frequent psychological tests are just as important as regular medical checkups. Diabetic distress can be caused by thoughts such as 'I can't cope with this disease', 'I can't lead a normal life', and 'My life is a hindrance'. “It can lead to thoughts like being full of anxiety, which can lead to other mental health complications,” he says.

He says early detection of diabetes distress, where the burden of self-management causes stress, guilt, and denial, followed by psychotherapy and acceptance and commitment therapy, can prevent patients from falling into depression. It is said that it is possible.