Diabetes, Mental Health, and Addiction: What You Need to Know
World Diabetes Day is November 14th, and for many firefighters in recovery from addiction and trauma-related disorders, managing their recovery also means positive management of diabetes. There is a strong correlation between diabetes, mental health, and addiction. If you are in recovery, understanding these connections can help you to manage symptoms of all disorders and improve your quality of life.
Here’s what you need to know:
· You are not alone. The American Diabetes Association reports that more than 30 million Americans were living with type I or type II diabetes in 2015. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that 28.6 million Americans reported use of an illicit drug in the past 30 days in 2016, which equals about 1 in 10 Americans over age 12, and about 1 in 4 Americans between the ages of 18 and 25. Also, SAMHSA reports that about 16.3 million Americans reported heavy alcohol use, and more than 65 million reported binge drinking in the past 30 days. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that more than 43 million Americans experience mental illness in any given year. No matter what you are facing, there are others who are living through the same thing.
· Firefighters, in particular, are experiencing high rates of diabetes and related complications. Almost 44 percent of firefighters who died on the job during the course of one 10-year study by the United States Fire Administration (USFA) passed due to a sudden cardiac event. About 75 percent of that number were living with a detectable condition like diabetes.
· Diabetes, mental health disorders, and addiction are treatable. There is no foregone conclusion when it comes to the management of any one or all three of these disorders. That is, diagnosis with one, two, or all three does not necessarily indicate an unavoidable negative outcome. Treatment can completely change the trajectory of how you live and feel every day, and the sooner you get started, the better.
· Immediate and comprehensive care is advised. No matter what combination of issues you are facing, the sooner you begin the path to recovery, the sooner you will start to feel physically and emotionally stronger and more stable.
The First Step in Treatment
If you have diabetes and are facing issues of mental health and wellness and/or substance abuse, now is the time to connect with comprehensive medical care and therapeutic treatment. At American Addiction Centers, we offer an intensive and multifaceted treatment program called First Responder Lifeline Program designed to help firefighters and other first responders to:
· Identify all co-occurring trauma-related disorders (e.g., PTSD, emergency responder exhaustion syndrome, etc.)
· Stop using all substances of abuse safely
· Learn how to manage stressors effectively without drinking or getting high, through motivational and interactive therapies
· Connect with EAP/MAP assistance
· Get support and assistance for family members
When there are chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, interacting with mental health and substance abuse issues, immediate intervention and treatment are recommended. Call (888) 731-FIRE (3473) now to learn more about how we can help.
