Dan’s Story

There have been times when diabetes has had an impact on my mental health and I think that goes for most people who live with diabetes.

The constant monitoring, checking and everything else that comes with diabetes is a mental drain. I not only struggled with this but also with feeling like I needed to be the perfect diabetic. I felt I needed to have perfect sugars all the time and the perfect Hba1c.

I look back and I think the narrative especially from healthcare professionals was if you don't look after yourself then you'll have all these horrible complications. I understand why it was said however it felt like scaremongering instead of motivating. The effect was negative rather than positive.

Going through burnout was when my diabetes had the biggest impact on my mental health. Enough was enough and I shut down. I managed to get through it but I still have what I call mini burnouts. A mini burnout is where I do enough to know what's happening but know I could be doing better. Thankfully I know the signs and can see what it happening.

In general I am optimistic and will always look for the positive in any situation no matter how hard it may seem at the time.

I am much more easier on myself now and that need to be the perfect diabetic no longer exists. When you get diagnosed with diabetes you can think it's only a physical health condition but its not, it's a physical, mental and emotional health condition all wrapped into one.

Having the community has been a massive help because I know I’m not on my own.

Dan Newman