Across the world, many people are now experiencing a new kind of
freedom. As the incidence of COVID-19 in some countries has fallen,
lockdown life is starting to ease. For some, this means that life is
beginning to feel less restricted, however this can bring about
another unique set of challenges when living with a chronic condition
such as diabetes.
It is always important to take care of
yourself and your diabetes first, and in this article we will look at
some practical support to manage new feelings and emotions to help
minimise the impact on your mental and physical wellbeing.
Many countries are starting to embrace the easing of lockdown
restrictions, but this can lead to new challenges for managing your
diabetes.
Perhaps you had adjusted and become comfortable
with how best to keep well during lockdown, despite the monotony of
living, working and studying within the same four walls. But then,
life changes again and this brings its own psychological impacts. You
may find that you are feeling anxious or worried as the restrictions
begin to lift and society begins to interact again.
These emotions are common at any time of significant change. Increases
in fear, anxiety, and feelings of low mood or a lack in motivation can
be some of the changes you may notice at one point or another.
However, there are things you can do to help manage and reduce these
feelings while still taking reasonable steps to protect yourself from
the potential risks of becoming ill due to COVID-19.
You can hear Sara Möback (Global Diabetes Advocate living with Type 1
Diabetes in Sweden) and Professor Tim Skinner (Diabetes and Health
Psychologist in Australia) talk about the
challenges people with diabetes are facing as the lockdown
restrictions are eased.
There is also lots of useful content on Diabetes What’s Next,
including articles on dealing
with stress and feeling
anxious that you may find interesting, as well as this interview
with Dr. Frank Snoek if you are finding life under lockdown is
affecting your mental wellbeing.
If you are having difficulties in controlling your blood glucose
levels, it’s important to speak to your diabetes team. They can
offer tips and advice, or they may need to adjust your medication(s).
This is general disease awareness and should not be understood as
medical advice. If you experience symptoms of COVID-19 or have
questions, doubts or concerns, you should contact your doctor. Always
follow the advice of local authorities.
In this article you will find links to third-party material not
owned or controlled by Novo Nordisk. We are not responsible for the
content or the accuracy of the information provided and have no
control over the privacy policies or terms of use of such third-party sites.