Protecting mental well-being is a group effort

Blending mixed-media imagery with the dynamism ofSantiago uses his art to inspire empowerment and joy within the diabetes community. Mental well-being is a topic that’s not often spoken about openly, but having lived with type 1 for 27 years, he sees this as a missed opportunity. Almost daily, people in the diabetes community reach out to him to share their experiences with diabetes-related distress, burnout and other mental health struggles.

Although these issues are now recognised by the medical world as a– in part due to physiological effects, but also because of the intense demands of daily management, as well as the stigma that goes along with a chronic condition – this hasn’t always been the case: “When I was first diagnosed,” reveals Santiago, “nobody told me that diabetes could have an impact on my mental health. It was more an approach of: ‘If you have a car, you bring it to the shop, you put fuel in it and change the tyres now and then. If you do that, you’re set for life.’”

But people are so much more complicated than the cars they drive.

To be the best version of himself, Santiago finds he draws strength from others. Forging bonds within the diabetes community as well as with his healthcare team helps him keep his mental well-being running smoothly.

1. Know your healthcare team
   For Santiago, who’s originally from Uruguay and is now based in Scotland, the most impactful and constructive diabetes consultations have always been those where he already knows the healthcare team. It’s like a pit crew at a Formula 1 race; when the team is familiar with patients and their diabetes journey, he explains, “It’s easier for them to acknowledge and trust your experience as a patient and work with your ‘expertise.’” Check-ups are then less rushed, freeing up time to decide together on the next therapy steps. The result of being listened to and invited to contribute to his healthcare plan makes Santiago feel balanced and in control.
   
   

2. Connect with community
   Being part of both digital and in-person diabetes communities has meant a lot to Santiago. When he’s at a diabetes conference, for example, and there are several people in the audience also checking their blood sugar levels, these are moments when he feels a part of something greater than himself: “It sounds silly and simple, but it's true. Connecting with a community that shares my experiences has a great impact because it helps me realise that I’m not alone.” 
   
   

3. Encourage diabetes-positive language
   Because Santiago knows how powerful words are, he urges anyone interacting with people with diabetes to “move away from fear-based language and images.” In his social media posts, for example, he’s careful not to talk about “controlling” diabetes but rather “managing” it – “There’s no perfection in diabetes; it’s not possible,” he explains. Especially for his younger online followers, he’s concerned that “the wrong words can get ingrained in your brain.” He goes on to assert: “How people talk about diabetes and how they refer to it has a direct impact on how people living with the condition experience it.” In order for people with diabetes to have a healthy relationship with their condition, they need to hear compassionate and motivational language, especially in conversations with their healthcare teams.
   
   

4. Share your feelings
   Santiago also finds it reassuring when his healthcare team doesn’t wait for him to bring up  mental health. Just a simple “How are you?” or “Is everything OK at home?” goes a long way to helping him feel heard; it shows him that his healthcare team recognises how hard it is to live with a chronic condition and that he’s trying his best. On the other hand, he understandswith dozens of patients, and only a few minutes with each, to make an emotional connection while covering all of the physical checks. If this is the case, Santiago encourages people with diabetes to broach the topic of mental well-being themselves. Just the act of saying out loud what’s been going on can make someone feel much better. It also helps the medical team more effectively support their patients. 
   
   

5. Use digital tools
   Santiago is very open with his online community about his favourite diabetes management solutions and devices. Why? “Diabetes technology can give us a little break sometimes and gives us a chance to catch our breath, even if it’s ‘just’ to have a good night’s sleep,” he points out. Any tool that can offer relief from the daily burden of juggling so many different things all at once means there’s more time to focus on the things in life that bring the most joy. What’s more, many digital solutions make collecting and sharing important diabetes data easy so that healthcare teams can have a good overview of what’s been happening in their patients’ bodies in between visits, ensuring that both sides get the most out of a routine check-up.

People with diabetes need more than fuel and the occasional oil change; they need to be surrounded by others who listen to, understand and value them. This includes both the diabetes community and a healthcare team that acknowledges diabetes management as a chance to work together for better outcomes and a greater sense of well-being.

As The Diabetic Survivor, Santiago also finds it very rewarding to put some joy out into the world. Capturing his lived experience with diabetes in his distinctive, engaging visual style, he makes a point of reminding himself and others that it’s not diabetes that’s in the driver’s seat of his life. He is.