Understanding and Managing the Risk of High Blood Pressure in Diabetes
February 14, 2022
Steps You Can Take Today To Protect Against Diabetes In The Future
February 14, 2022
Until now, you have had diabetes: it has not had you. You have been adhering to a diet plan, devoting time for physical activity, taking medications on time, monitoring your blood sugar levels, and monitoring your blood sugar again. But then, everything seems to be too taxing. Maybe you have been trying extremely hard but not seeing desired results. Or maybe you have developed a health complication related to diabetes, despite your best efforts.
When discouragement and frustration creep in, you could slip into unhealthy habits, put a stop to blood sugar monitoring, and possibly skip appointments with your doctor. It happens to numerous (if not most) people with diabetes, often after several years of optimum management. This could be the phase of diabetes burnout. At this phase, you may be questioning yourself, “how to overcome diabetes?” That said, you need not lose heart but start all over again with all healthy practices and habits.
How to Deal with Diabetes Fatigue?
Involve Your Entire Team
Contact your primary care doctor, podiatrist, ophthalmologist, diabetes educator, dietitian (basically anyone and everyone) to help you in refocusing on your goals. It is easier for you to keep a track of what is not working rather than what you are doing right. Your team can surely remind you of all the progress that you have made and assist you in coming up with new strategies and ideas. This is an excellent step when it comes to diabetes management.
Do Not Let Perfection be the Core Enemy of Good
Perfect blood glucose management is not necessary, and it may not even be possible. In addition, seeing the little picture sometimes is far better than the big one. Try taking smaller steps (such as lowering your HbA1C levels by 1%) rather than focusing on bigger goals. You are still headed in the right direction, and you will have more accomplishments along the way.
Connect with Individuals Who Get You
Seek encouragement, support, and insights from individuals who have been there. Online communities for those with diabetes are great ways to establish a connection with others who share similar experiences. You may even want to get involved in person.
Pay Close Attention to Your Feelings
Almost everyone with diabetes feels a sense of frustration and stress at some point in time. Moreover, following the practices of optimum diabetes management can leave you overwhelmed. Harbouring such feelings that last for more than a couple of weeks is an indicator that you need to seek help when it comes to coping with your condition so that you feel better.
Focus on Completing One Thing at a Time
When you consider all the tasks that need to be done to successfully manage your diabetes, chances are high that you will feel overwhelmed. To counter diabetes burnout, make a list of all the tasks that need to be executed to take care of yourself every day. Try to focus on each task separately, one thing at a time.
Pace Yourself Adequately
While you work on your goals (such as increasing the duration of physical activity), start slowly. You do not have to accomplish your goals immediately. Your goal may be to engage in brisk walking 10 minutes three times a day, every day. However, you may start by walking twice each day or on alternate days.
Set Aside Time for Enjoyment
You must give yourself a break. Set aside sometime each day to engage in something that you love; it could be talking to a friend, engaging in some games with your loved ones, or working on a fun-filled project. Explore activities near you that you can do with a pal. This will ensure adequate diabetes management at home.
On A Final Note
Experiencing burnout due to diabetes can be different for different individuals. However, one thing in common is that you stop taking care of yourself, thus aggravating the condition. For some, this could mean skipping insulin shots, irregular intake of medications, or not adhering to the diabetes management diet. Most describe burnout as a sense of giving up or hitting a wall.
After recognising the signs and symptoms of burnout, you must try to get the right type of support when you need it most. Make sure that you stay in touch with your healthcare team and talking about how you feel is typically the first step.
