subject: 4 Tips On Getting Help With Diabetes [print this page] Many people, when diagnosed with diabetes, simply take what's given and spend the rest of their lives wondering what went wrong.
This is such a pity, as there are many people out there who can help, and in fact, for you own safety, you should make a point of enlisting the help of others in combating this disease.
Tip 1 - Make Sure Others Understand What To Do In The Event Of A Hypoglycaemic Event.
As a minimum, your partner, (if you have one), or best friend should be educated about the effects of a "hypo" and what they should look out for. In particular, they should know what to do in the event of a serious event. It is also a good idea to also ensure that you have a colleague at work who is similarly trained, particularly given that although unlikely, it is possible to have a "hypo" so severe that you don't actually notice it happening.
Tip 2 - Find an Exercise Partner.
Having someone to exercise with means it's harder to get out of it! Diabetes requires exercise, which in turn requires motivation. Motivation is difficult to maintain on your own.
Tip 3 - Don't Listen To The Food Police.
When the author was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, he was given an A4 sheet with a list of foods on it. It was incredibly depressing, particularly for someone who enjoys their food! The fact is, a dietician should be able to provide an eating plan, in consultation with the patient, that includes at least a little of some of the foods that are not favoured by the "food police". This is not to say that some fundamental changes to your eating habits will not have to be made, but niether does it mean depression from eating food we hate!
Tip 4 - Understand Your Medication.
It is very important that you do as you are told when it comes to diabetes medication. However, taking a line of different pills every morning and every night can become depressing. However, if one takes an interest in the medication itself and discover what it does, you become more involved in the whole process and feel more in control of your disease, rather than controlled by it.
Above all, try and remain cheerful, as this is probably the most important weapon in the fight to maintain stable blood sugar. Do things you enjoy doing.
