Simple Steps to Rejuvenate Your Diabetes Management: Take the Jump Start Pledge!

Simple steps to rejuvenate your diabetes management

By Janis Roszler, R.D., C.D.E., L.D./N.

Do you actively care for your diabetes or do you find it hard to stick to important self-care behaviors such as home glucose testing, exercising and healthy eating? Diabetes can be challenging and exhausting. Many folks approach their health tasks with great intentions, but occasionally lose enthusiasm and return to many of their former, less-healthy habits. If this happens to you, you may believe that you lack motivation. But according to diabetes psychologist William Polonsky, Ph.D., C.D.E., a OneTouch® Gold contributor and author of “Diabetes Burnout,” this isn’t so: “No one is unmotivated to take care of his or her diabetes…Instead, they are perfectly motivated to do just what they are doing—and that’s the problem.”

So if you don’t lack motivation, why are you in a diabetes rut? Here are a few possible reasons:

• You don’t see immediate results from your efforts.
• You feel deprived.
• Your health goals are inappropriate.
• You feel angry.
• Other activities steal your attention – your favorite television shows, an outing with a friend, shopping, etc.
• You are too embarrassed to take care of your diabetes in front of others.

Strategies for getting out of a rut:

• Learn about your medication. Many medicines take weeks or even months before they have the desired effect. Speak with your health care team about how your medications work and read about them at www.medlineplus.gov, a service of the National Institutes of Health.
• Visit a dietitian. If your current meal plan is too difficult, ask a dietitian to create a personalized one that is designed with your needs and preferences in mind. 
• Meet with your health care team to set new goals. If you aren’t comfortable with your current goals, ask your health care team to help you choose ones that fit you and your lifestyle better.
• Seek support. A positive attitude should make it easier for you to take care of your medical needs. Connect with others in a hospital-based or reliable online support group to discuss how you feel about having diabetes. If necessary, speak with a mental health professional who can help you gain a new perspective.
• Incorporate diabetes behaviors into activities you love. Diabetes care behaviors don’t have to take you away from your favorite activities. Dance around the room as you watch contestants sing on television’s “American Idol” or arrange romantic dates that include a physical activity, such as a bike ride or walk in the park.
• Test your blood in public. If you aren’t comfortable checking your blood in front of others, practice testing with your glucose monitor in your lap, under the table. The more you do it, the more agile you will become.

Take the Jump Start Pledge

Once you choose your new behaviors, use the “Jump Start Pledge” to stay motivated. My patients have found it easy and helpful. Here is how to do it:

1. Choose a small and simple behavior.
2. Pledge to do it for one week only.
3. At the end of the week, choose one of the following actions:
   a. Renew your pledge for another week.
   b. Change your pledge to fit you better.
   c. Add another pledge to your weekly list.

Here are some examples:

“I need to lose some weight, so I pledged to drink a glass of water before each meal. It was so easy to do. I’m going to renew this pledge for another week.” – Lois

“My Jump Start Pledge was to walk for 30 minutes each evening. I tried to do it for a week, but couldn’t. At the end of the week, I reduced my walk time to 20 minutes each day and was able to do it without any problem. I’m going to renew this pledge for another week and will expand my walking time when I feel ready.” – Dick

Try the Jump Start Pledge to stay healthy and manage your diabetes!

Janis Roszler is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, insulin pump trainer, author and radio host. Find out more at www.dearjanis.com.