Dealing With Your Diagnosis

Life throws many curveballs at us but one you might not be suspecting is being diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes affects 1 in 10 people (37.3 million Americans), so remind yourself that you are not alone, and you will get through it.  You may find your diagnosis to be extremely overwhelming with the abrupt lifestyle changes you will have to make and the new responsibilities you will have. This can take a toll on more than just your body.

Find Someone To Talk To:

Whether it be a friend, a family member, or a mental healthcare professional, find someone you can talk to. Some diabetics even find that joining a support group helps alleviate some of their stress and emotions as they have people to connect with and relate to. Remind yourself that you are not alone and don't shy away from talking to someone.

Find Healthy Coping Mechanisms:

Find a good way for you to release some steam and integrate it into your daily or weekly routine. You can practice deep breathing techniques, yoga, exercising, or meditating. There are many different ways a person copes with diabetes. Find what helps you and stay consistent!

Avoid Temptation:

In order to manage your diabetes, you will have to make some lifestyle changes. This includes a healthy diet, more exercise, no smoking, and low to moderate alcohol consumption. Life pleasures can be tempting, and you may find yourself wondering how much it will actually affect you if you have a couple cheat days, no exercising, a cigarette here or there, and more than a few drinks each weekend. It only takes giving into temptation one time to lead you down a spiral that will have a major negative impact on your body.