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Most people assume that managing diabetes effectively simply comes down to eating healthy, living a healthy lifestyle, and taking your diabetes medication. As anyone living with diabetes knows, this is easier said than done. Diabetes can be extremely challenging because it causes a significant amount of stress and anxiety, especially if you feel like you’re fighting this alone. That’s why having a social support system, whether family or friends, is so important.
The Impact Of Family On Diabetes Management
Researchers from Bangkok and Indonesia reviewed 22 intervention studies to understand the role of family and social support in diabetes treatment and outcomes. Their findings were published in the journal Behavioral Sciences and should come as no surprise. They found that having a supportive family or friends can improve overall health and the outlook for patients with type 2 diabetes. Family support in diabetes care was directly associated with improvements in the following:
Psychological Wellbeing
Diabetes distress is a common problem in patients and refers to the emotional impact of the disease in many. Patients tend to feel overwhelmed by the condition and the responsibility of self-care, which can increase the risk of anxiety disorders or depression. This in turn increases the risk of other complications. The review showed that diabetes patients are less vulnerable to diabetes distress and can also overcome such feelings more easily when they have greater family support or a strong network of friends.
Diabetes Self-Management
Supportive family members and friends can have a positive influence on self-management of diabetes in a variety of ways. In many cases, family members or friends may be directly involved, helping fill out prescriptions or reminding loved ones to take their medications. Even when they are not directly involved, knowing that you have the support of your family makes you more likely to feel positive about the future and careful with adherence to medications.
Healthy Diet And Lifestyle
No matter what illness or health condition someone might suffer from, it’s always easier to adopt the recommended diet and lifestyle changes when there are family members or friends to support you. It is particularly helpful when members of your household are cooperative and supportive to the extent that they willingly make dietary changes that are beneficial for you. Similarly, it is also more motivating and fun to exercise when you have the companionship of a friend or family member.
Finding Social Support For Diabetes
Many families and friends may not recognize the need for being supportive or may not realize that their behaviour directly affects you. In such cases, if you start to feel isolated or overwhelmed, it’s important to express your emotions clearly before it affects your health. If you have a hard time communicating with loved ones, seek the help of a counsellor or therapist, who can either guide you or directly communicate with your family.
Aside from family and friends, you can also find some of the greatest support from other patients with diabetes. Simply join an online forum or social media group for patients with diabetes. The experiences and challenges of other patients will help you overcome feelings of loneliness, give you inspiration, and also help you make better-informed decisions.
