It is estimated that around 350 million individuals worldwide have been diagnosed with diabetes. While millions of others may be walking around undiagnosed as one in every two diabetic adults are usually unaware of their diagnosis.
As diabetes is usually linked to those with excess weight, lack of exercise, and unhealthy eating habits; many who have been diagnosed worry that they would have to make drastic changes in order to lead a normal life. The word ‘diabetes’ to them may invoke the image of restrictions, lifestyle changes, excessive control, loss of freedom, deprivation, medication, sadness, and many more. However, that is not the case. Many individuals who have diabetes need only to start with some tiny changes in order to see vast differences in their blood sugar level.
Why should you change?
Although having diabetes may necessitate certain lifestyle adjustments to control blood sugar levels, it is more important for a person with diabetes to open up to changes before diving into changes. It would be a good preparatory act to ask yourself ‘Why’ should I change my habits and what would happen if I did change them?
1. Better organ health
Having a good blood sugar level can help to protect your organs and lower the risks of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, vision problems, and nerve problems.
2. Better physical health
Hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) can cause more hunger or thirst than usual, excessive urination, tiredness and lethargy, frequent infections and blurred vision. While hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can cause sweating, hunger, shaking, dry mouth, dizziness, a feeling of weakness and headache. With good blood sugar control, these symptoms can be alleviated and prevented from occurring.
3. Better emotional health
Excessive low blood sugar reading can cause anxiety and confusion in some individuals while the excessively high level of blood sugar can sometimes worsen depressive symptoms. A healthy eating plan that helps to control your blood sugar levels will help in fostering positive emotions and thus, fostering a healthier and happier you.
How do I keep a positive outlook?
Diabetes has undoubtedly affected a person’s emotional well-being. It was found that persons with diabetes were susceptible to negative emotions due to the frustration of managing their condition. But the truth is nothing can take away your happiness unless you allow it to. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ‘None can make you feel inferior without your consent’. If you look at diabetes as something that is going to debilitate your life and steal your joy, your whole outlook on life will be of frustration.
However if instead, you chose to view your condition as a motivation for you to be healthier and reach an even better version of yourself, you will discover parts of yourself that you never knew existed. You will also start taking control of your emotions and learn to view this condition as a blessing rather than a curse.
It might help to ponder upon the following after being diagnosed:
now you have a bigger reason to start taking control of your health
now you are more careful of what you eat for which your waistline will also thank you
now you can start taking exercising even more seriously and you will also reap the benefits everytime you look in the mirror and see a healthier you
you are more mindful of your lifestyle habits which starts to not only improve your blood sugar levels but also helps your overall health
you appreciate every moment and every person in your life even more as you start to value your health and life more
There are also various myths running in the minds of persons with diabetes that should be addressed:
It’s time to make the change
Now that you have explored some of the Whys, the Myths and the Facts involved in changing your habits, we have now arrived at the Magical question of, “Are you willing and ready to change?”- If you have answered ‘Yes’ to this, think about a few things in your lifestyle that you are willing to change and slowly change this thought into action.
Being diagnosed with diabetes may seem like a world of never-ending restrictions. However, the good news is making even a tiny step of change will cause a huge impact on your health. And remember the food you eat and the physical activity you choose to do is just as important as how you feel. If you’re not happy with a certain eating plan or fitness routine, seek help on getting new ideas to tailor them to your health status and most importantly, satisfied yourself physically and emotionally. Are you ready to turn your situation into a blessing and have the intention to take action?
This article contributed by Hello Doktor and republished by Voiz Asia upon permission. This article was published in collaboration with Naluri. By Pamilia Lourdunathan
Research has shown that individuals with diabetes have a higher risk of depression than the normal population. Comorbid diabetes and emotional issues are found to be simultaneously associated, with one condition exacerbated by the other and vice versa. Traditional management of diabetes aims at diet, medication, and exercise while the psychological aspect of this disease is often overlooked. Due to negative perceptions and stigma on emotional/mental issues, diabetes patients may even feel reluctant to seek counselling or treatment.
The emotional turmoil of diabetic patients
Studies indicate that individuals with diabetes were more likely to have a strong emotional response to negative experiences. Research also indicates that individuals with prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes had more activity on the right side of their brains, which is associated with depression and negative emotions.
Those with prediabetes and diabetes also recorded lower cortisol levels which shows a lower resistance to stress. It was also found that the occurrence of anxiety in the diabetic patient has been reported as high as 40%.
People with diabetes normally go through several emotional stages as they come to grips with having a chronic disease.
Psychological support for diabetes
As diabetic patients become more fixated on negative thoughts, losing weight and managing other health issues can become more challenging. Negative emotions and anxiety affect diabetes self-care management, which is manifested through poorer diet and medication adherence, lesser physical activity, and ultimately higher health care costs.
For healthcare providers, giving the psychological support needed by their patients can make a huge difference in diabetes management. Recent research has shown that when support and care have been given by health care providers, it has resulted in higher perceived self-efficacy and lesser emotional issues with the diabetic patient. With the right support, positive emotional health will facilitate self-management and improved health outcomes. This can be done through:
Providing awareness and skills development to diabetic patient
Being more emphatic and improve communication skills
Personalisation of patients’ management and care according to their needs
Assess diabetes impact on patients daily routine and how to overcome it
Worries and concerns about diabetes management have caused several patients to impose various restrictions upon themselves. They may isolate themselves, which may precipitate or exacerbate negative emotions. By using an approach that promotes an open discussion about the difficulties in following a diabetes regimen, health care providers can help them gain a sense of freedom through safe self-management skills.
Managing your emotions in facing diabetes
“if you don’t manage your emotions, then your emotions will manage you,” – Deborah Rozman.
Moreover, addressing your emotion should be your priority in diabetic management. Below are some of the steps you can take to manage your emotions:
Acceptance and acknowledgement
Acceptance and acknowledgement of your condition will help you to focus on strategies to manage this disease. You should also learn to accept and acknowledge the negative emotions that may be surfaced. Overcome them by reframing your thoughts by looking at the situation in a positive way.
For example, a person with diabetes may say to himself, “It’s a good thing I was diagnosed early because it’s not too late for me to start living healthier and to try to reduce my blood sugar levels till they become stable”
Forgive yourself and grow from this experience
It is easy for one to fall into a trap of guilt, regret and self-blame of their lifestyle consequence. But it is important for us to know that there is no one who is perfect and we should learn to forgive ourselves. Let go and move on to the next step and become healthier.
Have an action plan
After going through the initial phase of acceptance and awareness, it’s good to move on to the next phase of knowing how to manage diabetes. It would be helpful to go through an action plan involving food and fitness with a friend or a family member.
Stay connected
Being alone makes diabetes management worse as isolation can make you feel more anxious. Talk to your friends and family for support. Close family members who live with those suffering from diabetes can help by practising similar healthy eating patterns. This can be one of the most powerful ways to support your loved ones by making them feel like they’re not alone in their management plan.
Relaxation techniques
Try to make time for some peaceful ‘me time’ sessions where you connect with nature in a recluse setting to help you unwind and get away from it all.
Managing diabetes may seem difficult at first but if we stop for a moment and reframe our thoughts and realize that diabetes management actually involves healthy thoughts, healthy emotions and healthy behaviour patterns comprising healthy eating and healthy fitness activities in order to ultimately attain a healthy lifestyle. Shouldn’t everyone be doing the same too? You’re not alone on this journey to becoming a healthier you. We’re all in this together.
This article contributed by Hello Doktor and republished by Voiz Asia upon permission. This article was published in collaboration with Naluri. By Pamilia Lourdunathan
