Peer support
Speaking to a health psychologist helped give Muhammad a different perspective, but sharing experiences with other people who live with type 1 and face similar daily challenges really transformed how he felt about his condition. Muhammad always recommends you speak out if you're in need of support.
Peer support gives you a mental space where you can be yourself. You can learn from people, you can express your emotions because you don’t have to explain what you have to do to manage your condition – people get it. It removes a lot of barriers.
“I think some people worry that if they were completely open and honest with their clinicians, they’d be given a really hard time. But peer support isn’t like that. You’re not going to feel judged by your peers, so you can have more open and honest discussions.”
As a keen footballer, Muhammad was motivated to manage his diabetes around the sport that he loved. Keen to build on his increasingly positive outlook, he joined The Diabetes Football Community – a supportive community for people across the UK who live with diabetes.