Being able to keep smiling through adversity is challenging, but can help to make life enjoyable. Therefore, when one has diabetes, though there are more steps which are needed to manage the physical part of it, learning how to manage it in a way that does not take away the quality of life is helpful. There are seven key ways that can help when dealing with a diabetes diagnosis.
Stay Calm
While this can seem somewhat overused, it has been proven that dealing with diabetes is easier when able to make decisions with a cool head. Since the illness itself can be a lot to deal with, dealing with out of control emotions on top of it can make things worse. Stress can be known to cause complications, so staying calm can help to avoid further issues.
Pay Attention
Avoiding instances of setbacks can be helpful in managing diabetes. So, watching how things affect the body is important. It might be a good idea to keep a food and activity journal so that if issues do arise, the trigger can be located with ease and eliminated. Knowing your body can help to gauge the illness, even before using machines to check levels.
Exercise
Doctors and researchers encourage those with diabetes to get out and be active. While caution is needed to make sure that there are no instances of passing out due to low sugar levels or strenuous exercise, there is no need to be sedentary simply because of having a diabetes diagnosis. In fact, exercise can help with both physical and emotional symptoms which may come from having chronic illness.
Life Your Life
While there are many things that are necessary to manage diabetes symptoms, this should not get in the way of doing what makes you happy. For example, eating foods with lots of sugar is something that a diabetes sufferer would not want to do, but eating other enjoyable foods within moderation is fine, even encouraged. Some diabetes sufferers know that they need to have supplies on hand at all times, so even after enjoying a piece of cake, they can have insulin on hand to make sure that it does not make them really sick.
Get On a Schedule
When you make a routine of regular maintenance, it becomes easier to remember to do the right things. Get a schedule and write down the times when medication needs to be administered, meals should be eaten, and blood levels need to be checked. Making management as simple as possible will help in being consistent in keeping the illness under control.
Laugh
Laughter truly is the best medicine. Diabetes is nothing to be ashamed of. So, being able to find the humor in life can aid in managing symptoms. This also helps to reduce stress, another harmful risk factor for diabetes.
Don’t Be Afraid
For many, hearing a diagnosis of diabetes can be scary. But, when you are armed with information and proper management techniques, the fear can be alleviated. Of course, there is natural cause for concern, but things can be brought into proper perspective when handled the right way.
Managing illness can sometimes feel like another job on an ever-growing list of things to do. However, it can be done successfully and true joy can be maintained.
