DIABETES DISTRESS SCALE

Recently contained in the Annals of Family Medicine a distress screening
instrument was created for Primary Care Physicians and other Healthcare Providers who interface with people with IRD(aka type 2 Diabetes).
The problems listed can readily apply to those of us with T1DM as well, which is why I will list them here.
This is another example of T1DM getting *short shrift* when it comes to Diabetes. In spite of that, we can still use this tool and yes, you may copy and use it(answer it as well), provide it to your PCP, Endocrinologist or/and CDE so that they might know "how you have been feeling w/Diabetes 24/7."
...........and think of how much time you will save during that 15min interlude that your Physician only has with you.lol
You can even share it with your Spouse or Significant Other so that they will know, *how you really feel.*

Directions Living with diabetes can sometimes be tough. There may be many problems and hassles concerning diabetes and they can vary greatly in severity. Problems may range from minor hassles to major life difficulties. Listed below are 17 potential problems that people with diabetes may experience. Consider the degree to which each of the items may have distressed or bothered you DURING THE PAST MONTH and circle the appropriate number.
Please note that we are asking you to indicate the degree to which each item may be bothering you in your life, NOT whether the item is merely true for you. If you feel that a particular item is not a bother or a problem for you, you would circle "1." If it is very bothersome to you, you might circle "6."

1. Feeling that diabetes is taking up too much of my mental and physical energy every day.
1
2
3
4
5
6

2. Feeling that my doctor doesn't know enough about diabetes and diabetes care.
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2
3
4
5
6

3. Feeling angry, scared and/or depressed when I think about living with diabetes.
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5
6

4. Feeling that my doctor doesn't give me clear enough directions on how to manage my diabetes.
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2
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5
6

5. Feeling that I am not testing my blood sugars frequently enough.
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2
3
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5
6

6. Feeling that I am often failing with my diabetes regimen.
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6

7. Feeling that friends or family are not supportive enough of my self-care efforts (eg planning activities that conflict with my schedule, encouraging me to eat the "wrong" foods).
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6

8. Feeling that diabetes controls my life.
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6

9. Feeling that my doctor doesn't take my concerns seriously enough.
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6

10. Not feeling confident in my day-to-day ability to manage diabetes.
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6

11. Feeling that I will end up with serious long-term complications, no matter what I do.
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6

12. Feeling that I am not sticking closely enough to a good meal plan.
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6

13. Feeling that friends or family don't appreciate how difficult living with diabetes can be.
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5
6

14. Feeling overwhelmed by the demands of living with diabetes.
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6

15. Feeling that I don't have a doctor who I can see regularly about my diabetes.
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6

16. Not feeling motivated to keep up my diabetes self-management.
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6
17. Feeling that friends or family don't give me the emotional support that I would like.
1
2
3
4
5
6

ANNALS OF FAMILY MEDICINE ♦ WWW.ANNFAMMED.ORG ♦ VOL. 6, NO. 6, ♦ MAY/JUNE 2008
Copyright © 2008 The Annals of Family Medicine, Inc

DIABETES/THE NITTY GRITTY

Scott Strumello @sstrumello.blogspot.com has tagged me for *5 Things You Won't Find In A Book*
Thanks Scott.

Some of these items that I will list, you might find in a book. But all come from a personal relationship that I have had with Diabetes(T1DM) for a long time.
1. If you are newly diagnosed w/T1DM or you are the Mother of a child with Diabetes, then learn as much as you can retain about this complex disease.......and keep learning.

2. Always have some sort of ID on your person that says, that you have Diabetes and are on Insulin.

3. Treat signs/symptoms of Hypoglycemia IMMEDIATELY w/o first using your meter to check your blood sugar level. The time wasted, even in seconds can be dangerous where a rapidly declining glucose is occurring. If later upon checking your glucose value, you can always correct "mistakes," with additional Insulin. Remember, you do not "have to pass Go" in order to treat a possible Hypoglycemia crisis.

4. Keep an Opened Mind regarding T1DM and Treatment. The Body is under a constant state of stress because of the presence of this chronic Disease.
Anything that will help your Body/Mind/Spirit is worth developing and using. This might mean food modification where you will avoid certain foods and utilize others, the use of Meditation to lower stress levels, the use of exercise to help balance and reduce Glucose levels, the use of certain herbs that have been used for thousands of years in the treatment of Diabetes,
the performance of Martial Arts where your Body/Mind/Spirit become one and unified. This is helpful against any Disease.
Basically, you have to find what *works* for your own Body so that you are creating a "better playing field" than before.

5. Don't be a "Passenger" in your Doctor's office. You have to be proactive and involved in all treatments and decision making regarding your health.
It is your Body, not your Physicians.........respect it. Thus, both you and your Physician can both be "Partners" and sit together in the front of the car.

There is of course much more that I can offer, but like advice from anyone and anywhere, you take what applies to you and what you can use.

I pass this chain now to Kathy at PurpleHaze.com