Diabetes Care

Jane, a 38-year-old woman, has battled with her weight for most of her life. She frequently found herself resorting to emotional eating during stressful and challenging times, using food as a coping mechanism. 

When she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a year ago, the news came as a shock. She felt overwhelmed by the implications on her health and the urgent need to change her lifestyle. 

The healthcare team at the NHS was supportive and provided her with invaluable general guidance on managing diabetes through medication and information. However, the realisation quickly set in that the resources for personalised therapy focusing on her underlying issues of emotional eating were limited.

Recognizing the gap in her care, Jane began looking for more specialised support that could address her diabetes management while delving deeper into her psychological challenges with food. 

She understood that her journey required not just a medical plan, but also a comprehensive approach that would equip her with healthier coping strategies. 

Jane sought out a specialized clinic that offered both the ongoing medical care necessary for her diabetes and a multifaceted support system featuring psychotherapy to help her unpack and tackle her emotional eating habits. 

This clinic also promised nutritional coaching, pivotal for helping her establish new eating patterns that aligned with her health goals.

With her sights set on this integrated plan, Jane started working with the specialised team comprising endocrinologists, therapists, and nutritionists who tailored her treatment to her unique needs. 

Through therapy sessions, she began to understand the emotional triggers that led to her eating habits and was given tools to address these feelings in constructive ways. 

The nutritional coaching provided her not only with meal plans conducive to her condition, but also taught her the importance of a balanced diet that fits within her lifestyle. 

Similarly, ongoing diabetes management ensured her health was monitored closely, allowing Jane to feel empowered and supported on her path toward personal transformation and healthier living.

People with Type 1 diabetes can struggle with their condition, related to their weight, eating behaviour, physical and mental health.

Psychological & Emotional Challenges

• The constant monitoring of blood sugar levels, meal planning, and insulin administration can contribute to stress, anxiety, and even burnout. 
• Concerns about food becoming an obsessive focus, which can inadvertently lead to disordered eating behaviors. 
• The emotional toll of weight management and body image issues often exacerbates these challenges

Balancing Diabetes Management with Weight Control

• Finding a balance between managing diabetes effectively and controlling weight. 
• Difficulties of achieving optimal blood glucose control while trying to lose or maintain weight, as insulin can sometimes promote weight gain. 
• Challenges with determining appropriate carbohydrate intake and balancing their diet, which can lead to feelings of helplessness or confusion. 

Access to Resources and Support

• Inadequate access to appropriate healthcare resources and support systems
• Lack of specialised care addressing the intersection of diabetes, obesity, and eating disorders. 
• Desire for more comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approaches that offer psychological support, nutritional counseling, and medical advice tailored to their specific needs. 
• Many feel they have to manage complex aspects of their health on their own.

Diabulimia

Diabulimia is often driven by body image issues and a desire for thinness, combined with the mental health challenges associated with living with a chronic condition.

People with Type 1 diabetes rely on insulin to manage their blood glucose levels. In diabulimia, individuals reduce or withhold the insulin necessary for glucose uptake to cause the body to burn fat and muscle for energy, potentially leading to weight loss.

We often meet clients with Type 2 diabetes who face a variety of challenges related to managing their condition, controlling their weight, and their mental health. Here are some of the common struggles they face:

Managing Blood Sugar Levels

• Complexity of Management – Clients with Type 2 diabetes must monitor their blood sugar regularly and adjust their diet, physical activity, and potentially medication or insulin use accordingly. This ongoing effort can be overwhelming and challenging.
• Dietary Changes – Dietary management often requires significant lifestyle adjustments, such as reducing carbohydrate intake, controlling portion sizes, and making healthier food choices. Many people find these changes difficult to maintain consistently, particularly if they lack access to nutritious food options or face dietary restrictions they find culturally or personally unappealing.

Struggles With Weight Control

• Insulin Resistance – A hallmark of Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance can make weight loss more difficult. Clients often experience challenges in losing weight, which is typically recommended for improving insulin sensitivity.
• Weight Gain from Medications – Some diabetes medications, including insulin, can promote weight gain, leading to a cycle that makes managing both diabetes and weight increasingly complex.
• Emotional Eating – Emotional stress, sometimes related to the diabetes diagnosis or its management, can lead to emotional or stress eating, further complicating weight management efforts.

Psychological & Emotional Factors

• Mental Health – The burden of managing diabetes can lead to stress, anxiety, or depression. These mental health issues can, in turn, impact a client’s motivation and ability to adhere to treatment plans.
• Body Image Issues – Concerns about body weight and body image can sometimes lead to unhealthy eating behaviors or disordered eating.

Insulin Management

• Manipulation of Insulin – Some individuals with Type 2 diabetes, especially those who transfer to insulin therapy, may underuse insulin to avoid weight gain. This practice can lead to poor blood sugar control and a host of subsequent health complications.
• Seeking Quick Fixes – The pressure to maintain or reduce weight can push individuals toward harmful behaviors, risking long-term health for short-term goals.

Lack of Resources & Support

• Access to Healthcare – Quality care, education, and support for comprehensive diabetes management can be limited, particularly in underserved communities. This lack of access can leave individuals feeling unsupported.
• Education Gaps – Insufficient information about diabetes management and healthy lifestyle changes may impede patients’ ability to effectively manage their conditions.

Overall, the struggles with Type 2 diabetes, weight control, and related challenges highlight a need for comprehensive care that includes medical treatment, dietary advice, psychological support, and accessible resources to empower individuals in managing their health effectively. 

We can create a tailored programme to support your personal challenges living with diabetes. Call our team today, and find out how we can support you.