Prevention | Support Strategies
The Emotional Side of Diabetes - Part 2: Things You Should Know: A series from the Behavioral Diabetes Institute
Part 2 of our series from the Behavioral Diabetes Institute
Living well with diabetes takes emotional strength. Why? Because this is a tough disease. Diabetes is more than just eating right and taking your medications. Staying strong emotionally is the key to keeping stress and your blood glucose levels where they belong. Unfortunately, people with diabetes as well as doctors often neglect these “real life” aspects of the disease.
How can you manage diabetes while also giving proper attention to your own thoughts and feelings? Here are the most important things you need to know about the emotional features of diabetes. In this article, we focus on the social aspects.
The Social Side of Diabetes
- Appreciating the power of pals. Diabetes is easier to manage when you have people in your life who are rooting for you. When you feel alone with diabetes, it is harder to handle.
Take notice of the meaningful ways loved ones support you or help you feel less alone: for example, when family members join you in having healthier meals each night, when a good friend shares your anger or disappointment with a high blood sugar reading, when your spouse offers to help you with your next insulin injection, or when your neighbor agrees to join you for a brisk walk each morning.
Just having someone in your life who cares can go a long way.
Solutions
- Ask for the help you need. Many of your loved ones want to support your efforts, especially when you are trying to change your habits, but they may not know how to do so in a manner that fits your needs and respects your independence. So think of a small, specific way in which a friend or family member can be helpful, then ask for that help.
- Be a pal to your pals. Ask for support in a kind, considerate way. If you are too demanding, your loved ones may be unwilling to cooperate. Thank or acknowledge your loved ones when they offer support. Everybody appreciates positive feedback!
- Sometimes, friends and family just aren’t as supportive as you had hoped. So make some new friends who can understand the hassles of diabetes. Join a diabetes support group in your community. Your doctor or local hospital can help you find one that is right for you. Talking to other people with diabetes can help you feel less alone.
- Arresting the diabetes police. Friends and family may sometimes think it is their right to help you manage your diabetes, whether you like it or not. Sometimes too much “support,” especially if you didn’t ask for it, can feel like nagging.
When friends and family are bugging you about what to eat or what to do, you may tend to do the opposite of what has been suggested. “Don’t think I should eat that piece of cake? OK, then I’ll have two pieces!” Though they mean well, they have become the Diabetes Police, and you’ve become a Diabetes Criminal.
Solutions
- Because they care about you, it may be impossible to stop your loved ones from trying to be helpful. So instead of telling them to stop “policing” you, harness their caring in a way that can work for you. Thank them for their concern about your health, explain that their actions are not helping you (if they are not), and let them know specifically how they can be of real help. A heartfelt conversation can help you all feel like you’re on the same team, with no police and no criminals.
- Your loved ones may be nagging because they worry you aren’t managing your diabetes well enough. If they are wrong, let them know how well you are doing by inviting them to your next doctor’s appointment, sharing your A1C results, or having them accompany you to a diabetes education class. If they are right, consider how you might improve your diabetes care.
A few last words
Diabetes can be tough, but you can live well with it. You can succeed with diabetes through knowledge, good medical care and emotional strength.
