Body Image and Diabetes

Body image relates to how we think and feel about our bodies - how content or discontented we are. Many factors affect our body image and one of them is the presence of an illness. When managing diabetes, the focus on food intake and weight management can have an effect on body image.

The challenge of weight management in women with diabetes

A woman's weight influences her body image. In diabetes, weight concerns are often present. Being overweight is a contributing factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. Managing diabetes is more difficult when you are overweight and this is especially true for the woman with type 2 diabetes. For some women with type 1 diabetes, desirable weight gain may be difficult to achieve, particularly at times when blood glucose is elevated. Weight and diabetes are intertwined. Women with diabetes are often advised to "maintain a healthy weight." If you struggle with this issue, it may be helpful to separate the issue of how much you weigh from the behaviours you want to adopt to stay healthy. It may help if you work with a dietitian or other health professional to develop a plan of action that will help you to stay healthy. Then try to focus on this and not just your body size. Are you able to meet your goals for eating and activity? Let this be the measure of your success, not how your body looks.

If you find that you have stopped being active, are over-eating or regularly bingeing on certain foods, think about the reasons for this. Sometimes our lifestyles are unhealthy because of the time demands we face in our daily lives. Sometimes we use food to relax, for comfort, or to help us cope with negative feelings such as anger, boredom, fear, loneliness or a sense of inadequacy. What are the issues for you? Do you think that you need more help and support to deal with these concerns? In some cases, these issues can be resolved by prioritizing the time you need to care for yourself, while in other situations it can be useful to have professional counselling to help you examine the barriers to your health and how you can change your thinking and behaviours. If this is the case for you, talk to your doctor or the diabetes health care team and ask them to recommend a therapist to help you resolve some of these issues.

• Eating Disorders in Women with Diabetes