subject: Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes? What Now? [print this page] Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes? What Now? Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes? What Now?
So, you have been newly diagnosed with diabetes, and you are wondering what to do, where to start and how to go about restructuring your life around this disease. Here are some tips to help you.
First of all, understand that this is likely to be a testing time for you, both emotionally as well as physically. So, it is alright to feel overwhelmed, sad, confused or even a little angry. Allow yourself time to get over your feelings of disbelief and pain. Taking care of your emotions is vital before you begin to take care of your disease.
The good news is, these days, you CAN lead a full, happy, healthy and long life with diabetes mellitus. But, if you want to do that, you need to know a lot about diabetes and about your body. So, strive to know more about diabetes as new developments are taking place almost every day.
Establish a daily routine that includes diet, physical activity, blood monitoring and proper medication.
* Diet: Just because you have been newly diagnosed with diabetes, food is not your enemy. Learn your food facts as this will enable you to include almost any food in your diet.
* Exercise: Regular exercise offers many benefits to people newly diagnosed with diabetes. You can lower your blood glucose levels and enjoy better blood circulation by exercising regularly. Exercise does not have to be strenuous. Practice gentle exercise and exercise that you enjoy doing.
* Blood monitoring: It is important to take a daily measure of how well your body is coping. Your blood glucose meter provides this feedback on a daily basis. Using the information provided by your blood glucose meter, make adjustments to your daily diet, medication and levels of physical activity.
* Medication: There are advances happening in the field of medicine even as you read this. However, they have yet to find a final cure for diabetes. Until that time comes, you will need to take in your diabetes medicine for the rest of your life. Do know that some people are able to revert to their pre-Diabetes state if they do all the right things, suggested by their doctor.
Although you can lead a good and happy life if you have been newly diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to know about short-term and long-term complications associated with the disease. Learn more about hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, eye and foot damage and so on. Diabetes, if left uncontrolled, has the potential to impact every organ in your body even the sexual organs. That is why strict blood sugar control plays an important role in living with diabetes.
Since there are many people going through the same difficulties as you, it makes sense to become a part of a diabetes support group. This way, you will be able to share your concerns and your successes with others. You will also learn more about new developments in the field of diabetic health care.
Lastly, you might want to find out if your insurance covers your medical needs. This is also important because you will be spending a good amount of money on medicines.
If you have been newly diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to have a strategy and a plan that helps you combat the disease. Refuse to feel overwhelmed and keep in mind that people have easily led good lives with the disease. After all, the bigger battles in life are fought in your mind!