Beyond the Numbers:
Real stories of navigating mental health with T1D
Living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is more than just managing blood glucose levels—it’s a constant, lifelong balancing act that affects both body and mind. The stress of daily decisions, the fear of complications, and the relentless weight of management can take a heavy toll on emotional and mental health. Diabetes distress, anxiety, and depression are common struggles for people with T1D of all ages, and yet they are often overlooked or minimized for a number of reasons, including stigma.
At Breakthrough T1D, we believe that talking about mental health is just as important as the physical management of T1D. That’s why, when the T1D community expressed a need for honest conversations on this topic, we created a video series featuring real people with T1D who share their personal journeys—their struggles, their successes, and the strategies they use to navigate the challenges of living with this chronic disease. These stories go beyond the surface, exploring how people have shown resilience during their most difficult moments and how they continue to learn, adapt, and overcome.
Relationships and Social Support
Living with T1D can shape how we connect with others, both personally and professionally. From learning to communicate needs to recognizing when to seek support, these stories explore how building a strong support system can help ease the emotional and mental challenges of living with T1D.
Tracey – Canine Support
Tracey – Social Situations
Christine – Having a partner
Meagan – New mom
Meagan – Feeling judged
Rodrigo – Support
Lujane – Telling someone
Life Transitions
Life transitions—whether career changes, aging, having a baby or a shift in family dynamics—can become even more complex when managing a chronic disease. Hear from individuals with T1D as they share their experiences navigating major life changes while balancing the demands of diabetes management.
Tracey – Transitions
Christine – The journey
Meagan – Decision to have a child
Meagan – In labour
Rodrigo – Misdiagnosis
Lujane – School
Lujane – Career
Coping and Resilience
Resilience in managing T1D is about functioning well and easily adapting to the stressors that often accompany life with a chronic disease. In these stories, individuals share the coping strategies that have helped them navigate the mental and emotional hurdles of T1D, from managing stress and perfectionism, to handling the ongoing demands of disease–management.
Tracey – Independence
Christine – Finances and self expression
Christine – Neuropathy
Rodrigo – New diabetic
Rodrigo – Setting rules
Lujane – Food
Breakthrough T1D is extremely grateful to Christine, Lujane, Meagan, Rodrigo, and Tracey for their openness and willingness to share. We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Mike Pivar and Peter Dreimanis—without their creativity, dedication, and care, this project would not have been possible.
To find a mental healthcare provider with specialized training in diabetes, please visit our Mental Health + Diabetes Directory.
For further mental health resources: BreakthroughT1D.ca/life-with-t1d/mental-health/.