I’ve spent years as a psychiatrist working with people managing chronic conditions like diabetes, and I can tell you what’s going on with your mood matters as much as what’s on your plate.
If you’re living with type 2 diabetes, you already know it’s more than just watching your sugar or remembering your meds. It’s a daily grind thinking about meals, exercise, numbers, appointments. It can wear anyone down.
But here’s something that often gets left out of the conversation: your mental health.
Let’s talk about low mood—even the “mild” kind
A lot of people think depression means you’re crying all day or unable to get out of bed. But that’s not always how it shows up. Sometimes, it’s more like this:
- You’re tired, even after a whole night’s sleep.
- Daily tasks that used to feel easy now feel like a mountain.
- You catch yourself thinking “What’s the point?” over and over again when it comes to diabetes self-care.
That’s still depression—and it’s common in diabetes. People with diabetes are twice as likely to experience depression. And when you’re feeling low, keeping up with daily diabetes care becomes harder—not because you don’t care, but because your brain is running on empty.
Depression affects the part of your brain that handles motivation and planning. So, if you’ve ever felt like you just can’t face another healthy meal or forgot to take your meds—not out of neglect, but because you were mentally drained—that’s understandable. It’s human.
Anxiety—the background noise that never stops
Then there’s anxiety. Many people with diabetes live with a constant hum of worry:“What if my sugar spikes? What if I forget something? Am I doing enough?”
That constant stress isn’t harmless. It keeps your body’s alarm system switched on. Your brain starts pumping out stress hormones like cortisol, which can push your blood sugar higher.
Worse, anxiety can make you avoid things—like checking your sugars—because you’re afraid of what you’ll see. It can also push you toward quick fixes (e.g., comfort eating) to calm your nerves.
Turning to food for relief is hard-wired into all of our brains. We attempt to escape danger and move towards safety. Unfortunately, anxiety brains exaggerate the threat. Review the strategies I wrote on the brain reset with breathing to ease anxiety and stress for helpful suggestions.
Emotional eating: more than just cravings
Let’s be honest, food isn’t just fuel. It’s comfort, especially when feeling stressed, lonely or overwhelmed. Many people with diabetes struggle with emotional eating or even binge eating.
It’s not about lacking willpower. When your brain is under stress, it craves quick relief and food delivers that, at least for a little while. The problem is guilt, frustration and a blood sugar spike following the comforting snack. That only leads to more stress—and the cycle repeats.
Why this matters
When depression, anxiety or emotional eating creep in, studies show that:
- People are less consistent with their medications or blood sugar checks.
- Blood sugars tend to run higher.
- The risk of long-term complications goes up—not because people don’t know what to do, but because their mental health makes it harder to do.
All of this information isn’t about awakening self-blame. It’s about understanding the real challenges that come with diabetes care.
The good news—there’s help
The best part? When you look after your mental health, everything else gets easier because:
- Treating depression often lifts that heavy feeling, making daily tasks less of a battle.
- Managing anxiety can calm your body’s stress response, which also helps your blood sugar.
- Getting support for emotional eating can break that exhausting cycle.
Even simple steps—like talking openly with your doctor about your feelings, connecting with others who understand, or learning stress-reduction techniques —can make a real difference. There are simple questionnaires your doctor can offer you to explain whether what you are feeling is the everyday burden of diabetes or a significant condition that needs treating. Don’t despair. For more than 25 years, I have helped people with diabetes live healthier, more fulfilling lives by addressing their mental health.
Final word
If you’ve ever thought, “I just can’t keep on top of all this,” know that you’re not alone. You’re facing both a physical condition and an emotional load often invisible to others. Diabetes is a heavy load to carry in our busy world.
So, next time you think about improving your diabetes management, don’t just focus on carbs and numbers. Ask yourself how you’re feeling—mentally or emotionally.
Remember that when you care for your mind, you also care for your body. And that’s just as important as any medication.
