Welcome to DiabetesPsyche-Dr.
Wendy.com!
I am Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport and I have
worked as a social worker and psychologist
specializing in diabetes for twenty-eight
years. That makes me old, a bit wise,
and very appreciative of my patients who
have shown me courage, resiliency, and
determination in the face of diabetes
and all its challenges...
I started working with the Diabetes
Research Institute at the University of
Miami Medical School, beginning under
Dr. Jay Skyler,when he was one of the
first physicians to recognize that there
was an emotional and behavioral aspect
to the management of diabetes. The world
is slowly catching up to realizing that
knowing what you have to do to
take care of yourself is not nearly as
difficult as being able to do it
everyday!
While I always encourage people that
whenever possible "Just do it", I think
most of us need some guidance and support
beyond that. People without diabetes can
feel loneliness, anger, guilt,
and shame or use denial, rebellion
or secrecy. The addition of diabetes to
your daily life increases the likelihood
of complex emotions. My goal here is to
help you recognize these normal and demanding
feelings and then move past them to do
better. Hopefully my book, When
Diabetes Hits Home; the Whole Family's
Guide to Living Well With Diabetes,
articles, motivational
CD, and attitudinal
adjustment blog and podcasts
will help you on the way to feeling and
doing better with diabetes. Monthly, I
will be holding an "Ask the Expert"
chat, where you
can sign in and discuss specific topics
on the challenges of diabetes.
Remember:
This is not in lieu of the advice of the
physician or a mental health professional
but rather a place to help you in the
process of getting and staying motivated
in your "job" of taking care
of yourself and your diabetes.
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