Diabetes Type F Diabetes also affects families and friends

Chronic disease: Diabetes can be a stress test for the partnership

In Germany, more and more people are suffering from diabetes. The so-called diabetes affects not only the lives of those affected, but also the closest of relatives such as spouses and friends. As a result, the chronic disease can be a stress test for partners and friendships.

Lifelong treatment

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of diabetic patients worldwide has been rising massively for years. In Germany alone, around seven million people live with the chronic metabolic disease. In some cases, the so-called diabetes mellitus can be brought under control by a healthy lifestyle. But often sufferers throughout their lives to control their blood sugar, inject insulin and pay close attention to their diet. This can also be a burden for close relatives and friends.

Diabetes not only determines the daily lives of those affected, but also those of their closest relatives such as spouse and spouse. This can be a stress test for partnerships and friendships. (Photo: Robert Kneschke / fotolia.com)

Diabetes also determines the everyday life of relatives

Diabetes mellitus determines not only the everyday life of those affected, but also their closest relatives such as spouse and partner.

Because the chronic illness requires a lifetime of attention every day of the year.

This is indicated by the nonprofit organization DiabetesDE - Deutsche Diabetes-Hilfe in a communication.

Patients with type 1 diabetes need to check their blood sugar several times a day, inject insulin and calculate the carbohydrate content of their meals.

And in type 2 diabetes, the use of medication combined with therapy-accompanying measures such as exercise and possibly a change in diet is in the foreground.

The partners often play a major role in supporting, motivating and carrying the burden of hypoglycaemia or complications, as the "DAWN2 study" showed.

Some people with diabetes even talk about a kind of "love triangle" that they share with their loved ones and diabetes. This can be a huge stress test.

The organization diabetesDE - German Diabetes Aid has some tips for successfully dealing with this challenge.

"Diabetes Type F"

As the experts write, a person with "type F diabetes" is a friend or family member of a person suffering from diabetes mellitus.

The name expresses how much they identify with the person close to them and their metabolic disease. This is especially true for the spouse and partner.

"Living with diabetes can have both positive and negative aspects," says Professor Dr. med. med. Thomas Haak, Board Member of diabetesDE - German Diabetes Aid and Chief Physician of the Diabetes Center Mergentheim.

"Some couples take the disease as an opportunity to work together for a healthier lifestyle and to pay more attention to nutrition and exercise." Both benefit, some pairs discovered while new hobbies such as couple dance or hiking.

Conflicts and worries

However, as part of the lifelong necessary therapy may also arise worries and conflicts.

Some people with diabetes want more support from their partner when it comes to disease management. According to Professor Haak, however, the opposite is often the case.

"Metabolism-healthy partners can overwhelm people with diabetes with too much care and literally patronize," said the doctor. The classic fabric for relationship.

If depression or other concomitant and sequelae diseases also occur, dealing with them also affects both and can be a test of the future.

"Open communication and a willingness to approach one another are the keys to managing such crisisful phases in a shared life," explains Professor Haak.

Those who involve the partner in his illness, explain to him how much self-determination or care he wishes, create the right conditions for a relaxed relationship. The same applies to the healthy partner.

Pain during intercourse

Couples should also talk openly about sexuality. Because some men and women with diabetes can suffer from sexual aversion or impotence.

For example, nerves damaged by the disease may be responsible for erectile dysfunction in men.

Women with diabetes sometimes have pain during sex because they suffer from dry mucous membranes and inflammation in the genital area.

"People with diabetes and their partners should not be afraid to involve their diabetologist if they have illness-related concerns," said Professor Haak.

"For some sexual disorders, for example, there are effective treatments, and many a relationship node is more easily resolved with the help of a third party."

The focus is then not the disease, but the healthy relationship. (Ad)