Devin Hastings

Perhaps not yet, but the chances are that anyone reading this article knows of someone with diabetes or pre-diabetes.  According to The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study, which was conducted from 1999 to 2005, every day 275 more adult Australians are diagnosed with diabetes.  Note that this is only the figures for the adults.

The AusDiab is the largest Australian longitudinal population-based study examining the natural history of diabetes, pre-diabetes (in which glucose metabolism is impaired but not to the level to cause diabetes), heart disease and kidney disease.

Here are just a few of the key findings from this excellent and comprehensive study:

    In 1999-2000, 7.5% of the Australian population aged 25 years and older had diabetes, 8.0 % of males and 7.0% of females. In people 75 years and over 23.6% had diabetes.
•    For every known case of diabetes, there was one undiagnosed case.
•    Almost 30% of adult Australians had elevated blood pressure or were on treatment for this condition.
•    The number of people with diabetes has trebled since a broadly based blood survey was undertaken in 1981.
•    Almost 1 in 4 Australians 25 years and over has either diabetes or elevated blood sugar that is not quite in the range of diabetes (called “pre-diabetes”).
•    Pre-diabetes is associated with substantially increased immediate risk of heart disease as well as increased risk of diabetes in the future.
•    People with pre-diabetes (elevated blood sugar levels but not as high as for diabetes) were 15 times more likely to develop diabetes than were those with normal blood glucose levels.
•    Increased television viewing was found to be strongly related to both obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

Following are 3 important points:

1)    As seen from the above information, there is an urgent need for effective motivational wellness coaching for Australians with diabetes/pre-diabetes, high blood pressure and less-than-great exercise habits.  
2)    Group sessions can often prove effective plus they are affordable and can still earn a good, deserved income for the hypnotherapists.
3)    Proper training before dealing with a diabetic is an absolute must.  Diabetes is a fairly complex disorder and there are many myths and misconceptions about how to help diabetics with hypnosis.  I frequently receive emails about one question in particular which is: “Can hypnosis help a diabetic to increase their insulin levels?” Don’t ever attempt to do this!  The reason why is too long to go into in this article but please, avoid this because it is often the wrong answer.

Now, in this article, I do discuss some things a hypnotherapist can do but again, a proper foundation is important so let’s talk about: The Quiet Crisis Within Diabetes

Depression is a 'quiet crisis' facing diabetics, their families and their health care providers.  Financially and emotionally this crisis is exacting a terrible cost.

The purpose of this article is to share important information about depression and how a hypnotist can responsibly and effectively help a diabetic with depression.  This assistance will help to improve a diabetic's life by (a) reducing the suffering from this painful state of mind and being and (b) thus enhance their diabetes management skills which will therefore result in a state of enhanced health.  

Bear in mind the importance of your contribution as a hypnotherapist.  You can make an incredible difference because even a small reduction in a diabetic's long term blood sugar levels can result in a marked decrease in the likelihood of diabetic complications.

A Hidden Danger of Diabetes

A largely unknown hence, hidden danger of diabetes is that diabetics have twice the risk of non-diabetics for becoming depressed. Dr. Richard Surwit of Duke University states that: "Diabetes more than doubles the odds of suffering from depression at some point.  One third of people with diabetes have been diagnosed with significant depression and 11 percent with major depression--twice the rate in the non-diabetic population (1)."

What is obvious and yet, not really obvious about the preceding statement is that being diagnosed with a major disease is traumatic.  This, in and of itself, can lead to depression--never mind all the other contributing factors that are related to diabetes and depression.

For example, a contributing factor to depression in a diabetic can be their physiological state.  As noted by Dr Surwit, there is research indicating that high blood sugars cause biochemical changes in the brain that can lead to depression. (2)

Are Physician's Aware Of This Danger?

Physicians by and large, are extremely busy and the demands on them are greater than most can imagine.  It is no wonder that many of them are simply not aware that their diabetic clients are two times more likely to suffer from depression.  If they knew this, they would probably be more likely to refer their diabetic clients with poor blood sugar control to someone who could help.  

When appropriate, a hypnotherapist can help in key ways because a hypnotherapist is trained to be a motivational coach and stress management consultant.  One way a trained hypnotist can help a depressed person with diabetes will be explained later in this article.  But first, let's look at an important question.

Does Depression Cause Diabetes?

This is an important question for many reasons.  Probably one of the more compelling reasons to deeply consider this idea is because, if true to some degree, then it begs this question: Wouldn't the validity of this concept make the majority of treatment efforts inappropriate and/or ineffective to some degree?  Consider the plight of many frustrated nurses and doctors who will attest that no matter what they do for their patients, nothing seems to work.

This statement is not meant to denigrate in any way the efforts of so many.  It is meant to highlight the importance of timely consideration of the depression-diabetes connection before the cost for all concerned becomes not only debilitating, but also tragically unnecessary.

Consider this: Evidence such as the findings of Dr Surwit shows there is a strong connection between depression and diabetes.  This is important because, unless diabetes treatment programs are sculpted to target a largely unaddressed cause and exacerbating feature of diabetes, many of those at risk will only become worse.  Those at risk include people with pre-diabetes as well as those with diabetes.

This pragmatic approach also prompts one to think about the idea that perhaps with re-targeted treatment methods, many of those with diabetes may actually experience a remission of symptoms.  And, dwell on the idea of how many may be able to avoid developing diabetes.  

Bear with me a moment while I explain. Untreated depression in those with diabetes is a personal tragedy for all family members but most especially children.  I state this because children have no coping skills to handle the emotional burden of a depressed and diabetic parent.  

Imagine being a child helplessly watching your mother (as in my case) being slowly, inexorably, taken apart emotionally and physically by the deadly combination of poorly controlled diabetes and untreated depression.  

It is because of this searing pain that I am driven to reach whomever I can with my Diabetes Motivational Coaching™ training so that perhaps some little boy somewhere doesn't have to watch his mother go blind emotionally and physically.

I realise this may sound disingenuous or dramatic to some and I understand but I make no apologies because it is true.  In fact, my feelings go far deeper than what I have communicated here.  You see, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and now that hypnosis has helped me to put my life on a previously undreamed of healthy course, my motivation is intensified because I think so many times: "What if my mother had been able to have access to these methods?  How much better would her life have been?"

Now, to tie all this in to my point that perhaps an innovative approach can actually prevent diabetes: The challenge with current diabetic treatments is that no amount of chemical management (including anti-depressants as well as insulin, etc.) will ever ameliorate this significant cause of diabetes (depression).  This is because these treatments do not address the root of the problem.  Furthermore, no amount of medication given to one individual will ever prevent another from developing diabetes.  

The last point seems odd until you consider a landmark Swedish study (3) in which it was discovered that there is a disturbingly high correlation between traumatic childhood life events (4) and diabetes-related auto-immune activity.  This study involved 17,000 children born between 1997 and 1999.  One of many conclusions in this study is that: "Experiences of serious life events (e.g., parental separation, serious illness, or death in the family) has been suggested to trigger type 1 diabetes(5) or the auto-immune process behind the disease.(6)"

An additional interesting point to take away from the preceding considerations is that current treatment programs treat one person.  Limited efficacy and high cost.  However, if a patient were to receive Diabetes Motivational Coaching™, then more than one person can receive the positive benefits because a healthier, non-depressed diabetic parent is less likely to have a diabetes/depression precipitating influence on their child - two for the price of one, offering a win-win situation from so many angles.  Obviously more study is required but the premise is intriguing and the evidence on which it is based is reasonably sound.

Another win-win benefit of appropriate, innovative treatment is that the exacerbating (and ultimately very costly) effects of depression on those with diabetes can likely be reduced or eliminated.  

So, what can a properly trained hypnotherapist do?  One key way a properly trained hypnotherapist can help is to reduce or eliminate depression in an individual (diabetic or not) through activating post-hypnotic suggestions.