Type 2 Diabetes is a disease that must be constantly watched and managed to control the above normal blood sugar levels that are characteristic of the disease. The person with diabetes can sometimes feel overwhelmed and stressed out by the things they must do every day to control their condition. Seeking support from others is a vital part of staying healthy and for managing the daily stresses of dealing with diabetes.
Your Healthcare Team
You probably have your regular doctor as well as a specialist on board to help you with managing your diabetes symptoms and help you stay well. You may also have a dietician or nutritionist on your team of healthcare professionals. These are the people you can turn to for expert advice and help with your diabetes care. Visit your doctors regularly and don’t be afraid to use their knowledge to help you navigate your diabetes. But much of the daily management of the disease has to be accomplished by the individual diabetic. For a wide range of diabetes products that might help, you could check out the iHealth range.
Support from Family and Friends
You see and interact with family and friends every day, so it’s important to have their support. Diabetes can affect the quality of life and every area of life, including the lives of family members. You can help to educate friends and family about diabetes and how it affects you. You will need to have the whole family on board to help you change your lifestyle. That way, exercising and choosing healthy snacks and foods will not be met with resistance from the family.
Communicate Your Needs
Getting support is often a matter of letting others know what you need. Because most of your friends and family do not have diabetes, they won’t know what it is needed or how to best help you. So sometimes it can get tough and a little discouraging. But don’t assume that family members know what you need, and don’t make assumptions based on their lack of support. It could be that your friends and family members simply don’t know how to help. Whether you need a listening ear or just someone to exercise with, you will receive better support if you simply talk to family and friends about what you need from them.
Join a Support Group
You may want to consider joining a diabetes support group. That way, you’ll be able to meet people just like yourself who are learning to deal with and to control their diabetes. You can share the ups and downs of life with diabetes with people who understand what you are going through. But it is important that such a group maintains a positive attitude of hope and support for their fellow diabetics and to encourage everyone to take the necessary actions to get those blood sugar levels under control and thereby lead as close to normal a life as possible.
Even if you have a supportive network of family and friends, an “outside” support group can understand and give support in ways that friends and family cannot. If you don’t want to meet with a group in person or you can’t find a group in your area, you can always find a group or forum on the internet. There are plenty of diabetes message boards and places to chat with other men and women with diabetes. Support has never been easier to find, so check out a group now if you haven’t already. I can assure you that you will find a sympathetic ear from people who are in a similar position as yourself.
Although managing diabetes can be stressful and lonely at times, it doesn’t have to overwhelm you. By seeking support from those who care and from others who understand, you can have the tools needed for managing your diabetes.
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