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December 26, 2022Living with any illness is tough, but it’s even harder when it’s a condition like type-2 diabetes that requires long-term changes to your diet and almost every aspect of your lifestyle. This challenging journey can be made much worse if you have family members ajayden daniels lsu jersey golf męski zara zara long jumpsuit in green cadena seguridad para moto balenciaga 2017 shoes sport jumpsuit nike adidas yeezy 700 v3 ćwiczenia na rowerze puma suede classic velvet sneakers in cordovan leather calfskin velvet tongue and toe cap Bonnets rugby corner jayden daniels jersey costume leopardato triangolo Italy nike air max 90 mallas para hombre nike mallas para hombre nike nd friends who are unsupportive and may even passively sabotage your efforts at diabetes control through thoughtless words or actions. Studies clearly demonstrate that a supportive family or network of friends can significantly improve diabetes outcomes, making it imperative for all of us to do the best we can to help our loved ones with diabetes. This isn’t easy as there are times when the best intentions can backfire, producing bad results. Follow these simple steps to help a diabetes patient, whether a family member or a friend.
5 Steps To Help Someone With Diabetes
Encourage, Don’t Nag
Parents and pet owners should be familiar with the concept of positive reinforcement and this is a strategy that applies to all relationships. Nagging at someone to adopt healthy behaviours or change their diet and lifestyle only damages self-esteem and raises stress levels. If you love someone with diabetes, understand that they are human and that diabetes also has an emotional cost. Be understanding, empathetic, and encouraging, so that the person feels like they have your support even though the changes needed are tough and there may be repeated failures along the way.
Share The Food Experience
Get to know what it means to have to eat for diabetes by trying a diabetes diet yourself. With some effort, you will find that there are ways to make meals that taste good, while also being diabetes-friendly. By making healthy choices and sharing in the diet journey, you will provide more encouragement and support for someone with diabetes than you can imagine. This doesn’t mean that you should follow a diabetes diet strictly, but try to follow it when you are together.
Get Active Together
Regular physical activity is one of the most important lifestyle interventions for the management of diabetes, but it’s not easy to switch to an active lifestyle when you have been sedentary for years. Having company makes it a whole lot easier. This is true for anyone whether or not you have diabetes. Having a workout buddy, whether exercising at the gym or walking at a park, makes the activity a lot more fun and sustainable. Find an exercise that you would enjoy together, whether walking, dancing, swimming, or cycling, and dedicate 30 minutes a day, 3 to 4 days a week to this activity.
Be There In The Worst Times
For many people with diabetes, it is extremely stressful to have to keep doctors’ appointments for regular health checks and monitoring. This is why some patients are irregular with their checks, which then significantly increases the risk of complications. You can help by offering to tag along, using the excuse that you need to visit the doc for a check anyway. If the person is more receptive, simply let them know that you can be there if they’d like, at least to drive them back and forth – whatever they are comfortable with.
Be Positive
A diagnosis of diabetes can be overwhelming to most people because it is so life-changing and poses a very real risk of mortality. While effective management can lower the risk of complications, it is important that you keep conversations positive and don’t focus on the complications. Most patients are aware of the risk of complications and many also suffer from depression and anxiety. You can help them best by showing them unconditional love and by sharing in conversations and activities that bring out fun and laughter.
It doesn’t take a healthcare professional to make life easier or healthier for someone with diabetes. It just takes patience, empathy, and support.