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, humorous
chapbook on coping with life (On the Couch with the
"Good Enough" Poet), attitudinal
adjustment blog and podcasts will
help you on the way to feeling and doing better with diabetes. 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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