Well, it’s time for school again. For many youth, that includes going away to college, often for the first time. There are numerous adjustments new college students need to make and the transition can be stressful. This can include the stress of having diabetes. We discussed in great detail the connection between stress and diabetes in our book (I Can’t Take It Anymore: How to Manage Stress so It Doesn’t Manage You; Paul G. Longobardi, Ph.D., and Janice B. Longobardi, R.N., B.S.N., P.H.N.), available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542458056. For information about the book, authors, or other information on stress, please visit our website at www.manageyourstressandhealth.com.
So, does your student have diabetes? If so, there are even more challenges for those students. This is the conclusion drawn in a study in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
The investigators found that people who worked at or attended universities had high levels of diabetes distress. This was defined as a condition of feeling worried and frustrated about living with diabetes associated with fewer self-care behaviors, suboptimal glycemic control, and lower quality of life.
Dr. Elizabeth Beverly, Ph.D., associate professor of family medicine at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and lead researcher on this study, noted that distress with diabetes occurs to everyone at times, often stimulated by major life events or change. She observed that going to college qualifies as a major life event and she recommended that we anticipate distress in students with diabetes and offer support.
In the study itself, investigators surveyed 173 people with type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus who worked at or attended a university. High levels of diabetes distress were reported by 27% of those with Type 1 and 30% of those with Type 2 diabetes. Study participants who reported high diabetes distress also indicated a lower quality of life. The study investigators also found that 19% of those with Type 1 diabetes and 17% of those with Type 2 diabetes screened positive for severe depression.
However well the student has been managing while living at home, new environments can significantly disrupt their self-care plan, especially when it comes to diet and managing blood glucose. As noted by the study authors, for students moving away from home, where routines are set, getting access to the right foods may prove difficult. Living with diabetes requires daily management and remains a chronic, progressive disease that can lead to decline over time.
Heightened diabetes distress stems from the uncertainty of being able to effectively maintain one's health in the face of major life changes or disease complications. It is well known that there can be severe consequences of not managing diabetes, including loss of eyesight and limbs.
As lead study author Dr. Beverly observed, the best intervention for combating uncertainty is information This can include referring patients with high distress for diabetes education. Patients can speak to diabetes educators and dieticians to problem solve barriers to better eating habits, learn about treatment options, or get mental health care from a mental health clinician knowledgeable of this area. In a large public mental center at which I worked years ago, we did just this for patients with severe and chronic mental disorders who also had diagnoses of diabetes. .
Dr. Beverly gave examples at Ohio University where provision is made for sharps containers for storing needles and refrigerators for insulin in dorm rooms. Hypoglycemia treatment kits can be found throughout campus. Faculty is also flexible with test schedules and absences that result from health complications. Students with diabetes can qualify for accommodations under the American Disabilities Act. However, they have to self-identify as having diabetes in order to have access. Just this past week, as I began a new semester teaching graduate students in psychology, one of the class members provided me with a list of accommodations around her diagnosed diabetic condition, to include ones just mentioned above. Clearly, more universities are recognizing that there is need to support students to facilitate improved health and academic outcomes.
In the chapter on stress and diabetes in our book noted above, we offered several stress reducing strategies to assist in managing diabetic conditions. In brief they are:
Change stress producing situations where possible. For students, this might include better time management and avoid becoming overwhelmed by over commitment to activities and people. Learning problem solving skills can help as well.
Use some form of relaxation therapy. It could be meditation, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation. Studies have shown that even five weekly sessions of relaxation therapy can reduce blood sugar levels significantly.
Learn to re-evaluate your thoughts and reduce your stress levels. If your problematic, overgeneralized, and catastrophic thinking is leading to stress and upset, get some help to change those thoughts.
Use your social support network. If you don’t have one, create one. In college, there are lots of opportunities to connect to others.
Maintain healthy eating, sleeping, and exercising routines. Among other things, exercise can help lower blood sugar.
Develop relaxing routines such as taking walks, taking up a hobby, or getting into a school activity or group which you enjoy and facilitates relaxation.
University is an exciting time of life for any young person. It is important that we support youth to include those with diabetes in making the most of the experience. It is possible to maintain control of our health and stressors.
Good luck on your journey.
Dr. Paul Longobardi
For information on these and related topics, please see my website at www.successandmindset.com