Week 5: What Now? Turning Diabetes Distress Awareness Into Action

Kelly Robers, RDN, CDCES

Because diabetes care is more than just blood sugar.

If you’ve been following along with our Mental Health Awareness Month series, first of all, give yourself a gold star. 🎉 Seriously. In a world that often reduces diabetes to numbers, lab results, and food logs, you took the time to focus on your mental health with diabetes. That’s a major win.

But now you might be wondering: What’s next?

From Diabetes Distress Awareness to Empowered Action

All the insight you’ve gained about diabetes distress, burnout, and food guilt means nothing if it stays in your head. Let’s turn that awareness into action, without overwhelming yourself.

Here’s a simple, effective diabetes self-care strategy you can start using this week.

A 3-Step Mental Health Action Plan for Diabetes

1. Check-in:

 Ask yourself honestly, “How am I feeling about diabetes this week?”

 Tired? Burnt out? Motivated? Just being aware of your emotions is a powerful step toward diabetes mental health support.

2. Choose one focus area:

 Pick one thing to support your emotional wellness.

• Reconnect with your diabetes care team

• Look into finding a therapist familiar with chronic illness

• Start a quick diabetes journal to track your thoughts and patterns

3. Find your people:

 Because no one should manage diabetes alone. Online peer support for diabetes can make a huge difference in how you feel day to day.

Looking for Online Diabetes Support That Goes Beyond Blood Sugars?

We created our flexible online diabetes education program to support both the emotional and physical parts of diabetes. We know diabetes care isn’t one-size-fits-all, which is why we offer:

• Short, on-demand lessons focused on real-life strategies

• Emotional support for managing diabetes burnout and distress

• Tools to help with food confidence and reducing guilt

• Access to an online diabetes support group

• Optional 1-on-1 appointments with a dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

You’ll get practical help and real encouragement from people who get it.

Mental Health and Diabetes: An Ongoing Journey

Here’s the truth: Mental health isn’t a once-a-year box to check during Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s an ongoing part of living well with diabetes.

Every time you:

• pause to check in with yourself,

• name your emotions,

• give yourself some grace,

…you’re building emotional resilience and strengthening your diabetes self-care.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need support that meets you where you are.

Take the Next Step Toward Better Diabetes Care

If this series spoke to you, don’t stop here.

✅ Book a free consultation to learn more about our supportive, flexible approach to diabetes education

✅ Join our email list for weekly encouragement and tips

✅ Enroll in our online course to build skills and confidence—at your own pace

📞 Questions? Call or text us at 602-456-0146

You’ve got this. And we’ve got you. 💙

 Let’s turn your awareness into action—together.