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Anger can be a big roadblock
Anger is a normal part of diabetes. Diabetes takes time and planning, two things most people would not choose to add into their daily schedules. Diabetes involves discipline, and not rewarding or soothing yourself with food. Diabetes involves putting your health first. And, doing everything "right" does not mean that your blood sugars will cooperate! So, diabetes can provoke anger. Even having to spend more time in medical settings can be irritating. You may feel pressure to be a "good patient," which means being cooperative, good natured and understanding of time delays. Patients are sometimes afraid (sometimes with good reason) that there will be backlash if they express anger to their doctors or nurses.But, it is good to be aware of those things that make you angry, and to talk them through with a family member, friend or therapist.
Ironically, many people don't know how to respond when they sense you are angry. So, you may get less support for being angry than for having other emotions -- which can make a person even more annoyed!. Anger can also get displaced onto other things. One example of this might be your getting irritated with the neighbor's mowing his yard early Saturday morning, rather than being irritated that you had to get up early so you could check your blood sugar.
One thing you can do is to ask a friend/family member to just hear you out, and not try to solve anything or find anything positive to say. Tell them you would find it helpful if they would just listen.
What are you angry about? Are you angry at yourself? Angry at God? Angry at nature? Science?
The more we are in touch with our anger, the less it comes out inappropriately at the wrong times, or in ways that are self-destructive. If you are angry about your diabetes but act out that anger by not taking care of yourself, then sadly, you hurt yourself more.
If you are finding that you are not staying with your diabetes routine, perhaps you want to ask yourself if you are feeling angry.
Angry can be energizing, if you channel it in a way that works for you.
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