Managing diabetes means making changes to your day-to-day routine. Added responsibilities like tracking blood glucose and insulin can be hard to remember at first, doctors’ appointments can cause time away from work, and the costs of appropriate care may be burdensome. These changes can be emotionally draining, and you might start to notice that you are feeling a bit off or have very little energy left to carry out important tasks to managing your condition. It is important to recognize that diabetes may affect your mental health and vice versa.

People living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at increased risk for depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Rates of depression across the lifespan are 2 times greater for people with diabetes than in the general population.

The fear of blood sugar fluctuations can be very stressful. Changes in blood sugar can cause rapid changes in mood and other mental symptoms such as fatigue, trouble thinking clearly, and anxiety.

Healthy habits to combat diabetes include adopting a healthy diet, exercising, and getting regular medical checkups to monitor risk. National Diabetes Month is an opportunity and an important reminder to prioritize your well-being and to make regular medical checkups part of your routine.

Through lifestyle and behavior modifications and/or medication, diabetes can be prevented or managed…but it starts with knowing your A1c number.