Couples Coping With Diabetes


Managing diabetes alone is one thing.

But when it impacts a relationship, it’s an entirely different story because it becomes a part of your partner’s life too.

Dealing with diabetes is never easy, but there are both pros and cons to going through it with a significant other.

The good news is that studies have shown that a supportive partner can help better manage the disease and the teamwork involved can actually bring couples closer together.

Because a relationship is a two-way street, it’s important not only to understand how diabetes affects you, but how it affects your partner as well.

“A partner’s support makes a big difference to the patient’s management of the disease. A partner’s support and coping as a team, gives the diabetic more confidence in his or her ability to stick to diets and to exercise and to gain better overall health. The quality of the marriage too benefits from this type of joint coping.”1

Diabetes Effect on the Patient

People diagnosed with diabetes experience a wide range of physical symptoms and emotions – fear, anger, depression, denial, shock and guilt. It’s an emotional and physical rollercoaster that affects not only the patient, but everyone around them.

How Diabetes Can Affect A Partner

Diabetes takes an emotional and physical toll. It’s very common for a significant other to worry about the following issues:

  • ● Serious health complications
  • ● Keeping diabetes under control
  • ● Preventing blood sugar emergencies
  • ● The ability to take care of a significant other
  • ● Dealing with the emotional and mental stress of seeing a loved one suffer
  • ● Financial struggles of dealing with insurance and medical coverage

If you don’t talk about these issues, the stressors that result can affect your relationship. The good news is that there are many ways to strengthen your bond as you learn to navigate your new normal.

Understand Your Roles

Every couple is different. What may seem helpful to some may seem like nagging to others. It’s important to understand each other’s roles and temperament and plan accordingly. There is so much that can be done together, but also so much that can tear apart. It’s important to understand the role and keep an open line of communication to avoid unnecessary conflict and irritation. Managing diabetes requires a complete life change for both parties involved. An assessment and change of diet, exercise, sleep and overall mental health is needed. It may require a complete life change, but it can be one that benefits both of you.

Developing a Plan

Communication is vital. It’s important to talk about the elephant in the room. Name the condition and talk about the details and all that it entails, especially when its impact reaches beyond just the couple.

Education is Key. The better your partner can understand diabetes, the better it can be managed. It’s important to learn the facts about diabetes and understand the numbers. Both of you should learn about the danger of high and low blood sugar levels and the relationship between food, diet and exercise. Introduce your partner to the many resources available online and take them to appointments to learn even more.

Be supportive, encouraging and work together to set goals. Setting small goals, identifying barriers and overcoming obstacles together can create a healthier and happier life. Most importantly be patient because there will always be ups and downs.

Knowing When to Seek Help

Sometimes all the planning in the world doesn’t help and couples can still feel out of sync. Whether the diagnosis is new or has been around for a while, adding a third party may help and seeking additional support may be a necessary option. Communicating with family members, confiding in friends, talking to other couples or seeking professional help from medical specialists, dieticians and counselors may be an alternative.

The point is that receiving a diabetes diagnosis does not have to derail one’s life and relationships. Communicating regularly, expressing support and working together to solve issues can increase the odds of successfully managing diabetes and protecting relationships.

Find Your Resource Support System

Living with diabetes takes daily effort, a strong support system and continual education. Finding the answers is not always easy but knowing where to start is the key. Establishing a pool of trusted resources that can be accessed at any time is an important first step to creating a strong support system. At Quest Health Solutions, we vow to be one of those trusted resources always. To learn more, contact us at 1-877-888-7050 Option 3, Ext. 1011, email ben@questhealthsolutions.com or schedule an appointment today.

1) (2017). Scroll.in. Diabetes Can Be Hard on a Marriage. Available at Click Here accessed on 5 February 2022.