Dealing with difficult feelings so that they don't overwhelm you is an important skill to develop.

When you are first diagnosed with diabetes, you will probably find that you are having many different feelings—and that most of them don't feel too great. Some of these feelings will probably lessen or go away completely after you have lived with diabetes for a while. But many of them may come back from time to time. Learning to deal with these feelings so that they don't overwhelm you is an important skill to develop.

A very important thing to keep in mind in dealing with your feelings is to remember that they are normal, and, again, that they will almost always pass or change over time. That is just the way most feelings are—they don't stay exactly the same forever. Very few things in life do!

Another thing that can be very helpful in getting difficult feelings to pass is to talk to someone else about them. This may not be easy to do. You may feel ashamed of your feelings, or embarrassed by them. Or you may want to push those feelings down and pretend that you're not having them, hoping that they will just go away. But, if you can, find a way to talk about how you feel to someone you trust—such as a friend, brother or sister, parent, teacher, or counselor. You might be amazed at how just talking about your feelings can make them easier to handle. Part of this is because talking to someone makes you remember that you are not alone.

Learning to deal with feelings is important for people with diabetes for many reasons. Most doctors agree that feelings do have an effect on your health, and that some feelings, such as stress, can actually affect your blood sugars. Also, feeling hopeful and having a positive attitude will help motivate you day-by-day to take the best possible care of yourself, so you can have a long, active, and happy life.