As an adult with diabetes, how can I best manage stress caused by the COVID-19 epidemic?
COVID-19 will increase stress, fear, and anxiety for everyone. Stress during this outbreak may especially impact people living with diabetes, and may include:
- Unpredictable glucose levels.
- Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones.
- Changes in sleep or eating patterns.
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
- Worsening of chronic health problems.
- Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.
Things you can do to help yourself include:
- Share the facts about COVID-19 and the actual risk to yourself and people you care about. When you share accurate information about COVID-19, you can help make people feel less stressed.
- Become educated about COVID-19, for instance by reading this website, but also take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about COVID-19 repeatedly can be upsetting.
- Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid excess alcohol and drugs.
- Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
- Continue your outdoor activities such as walks, runs and yard work, to the extent your health allows it and with social distancing.
- Listen to music that you enjoy.
- Ask friends, family, neighbors, and other networks for help with essential grocery shopping, picking up medications, etc.
- Children and teens react, in part, to what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.
- Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.
As an adult living with diabetes, what supplies should I have on hand in case I get COVID-19?
- Medication. Contact your healthcare provider to ask about obtaining extra necessary medication to have on hand. If you cannot get extra medication, consider using mail-order for medication.
- Over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies (tissues, etc.) to treat fever and other symptoms.
- Diabetes-related testing supplies and refills.
- Drinking water.
- Household items and groceries on hand so that you will be prepared to stay at home for a period of time.
- Food and beverages, including sugar-free fluids, sugar-containing fluids, and non-perishable (canned) foods.
- Use mail order if possible to obtain supplies.
