Let’s be honest: The toll of type 1 diabetes (T1D) doesn’t stop at the physical—it can affect us mentally and emotionally as well.

Whether you have T1D or support someone who does, managing this disease can stress us out, wear us down and leave us feeling like nobody else understands. Everyone feels that way sometimes! Yet, these are challenges that we don’t discuss very often as a T1D community. But at Breakthrough T1D, we hope to talk about them more—because none of us should have to feel like we’re facing this disease alone.

We put together a few important resources (from us and from others here to help) to guide and support you with the mental effects of T1D:

• Watch our YouTube video series on why T1D is so stressful and how you can build resilience
• Check out Beyond Type 1’s resources on diabetes burnout
• Connect with the Online Diabetes Support Team to ask questions and get suggestions for further resources

• Request to be paired with a Breakthrough T1D Outreach Volunteer who can help you build connections in your local area
• Read about the relationship between depression and diabetes from Beyond Type 1
• Watch Breakthrough T1D’s Facebook Live event on coping with diabetes distress

• Get the facts on ‘diabulimia,’ an eating disorder that involves purging by insulin restriction, from Breakthrough T1D Canada
• Connect with others who are going through similar experiences on TypeOneNation
• Find out how you can help friends or loved ones with T1D who are struggling with an eating disorder

There is no shame in struggling with the mental and emotional aspects of T1D. There is help out there for you and as always, we are here to support you.