Coping with diabetes

It is not easy to cope with diabetes. But there are three key factors that can help:

• Knowledge. Try to learn all you can about diabetes. Find out what you can do on a daily basis to manage it for the rest of your life
• Skill. There’s a difference between knowing what to do and being able to do it. Developing good coping and self-care skills helps you take your knowledge and put it to good use. Give yourself time to learn these new skills
• Support. Most people find it easier to deal with the challenges of coping with diabetes when they have the support of family, friends, and members of their diabetes care team

Coping with changes in your diabetes care plan

Change is part of life when you have diabetes. Usually, the changes are small. But at some point you may need to make a major change in your diabetes care plan. For example, you may need to advance from diabetes pills to an injected medicine. Here are some tips that may help you cope with changes in your care plan.

• Accept that change is part of life, especially life with diabetes. Sometimes just realizing this fact can help you accept and deal with change in a positive way
• When more medicine is needed, you may benefit from making greater efforts to get back on track with your diabetes care plan. You may want to look at your activity level and eating habits. Remember, set small, realistic goals to help you get back on track. Talk with your diabetes care team about your blood sugar goals. Don’t forget to reward yourself when you do achieve a goal, or even just for the effort you made toward achieving it
• Join a diabetes support group. Change is usually easier to manage when you know you’re not alone. Your diabetes care team may be able to recommend a local support group. Or you can call your local American Diabetes Association`

For more tips on coping with your diabetes, visit Cornerstones4Care.com.

Coping with diabetes burnout

Managing your diabetes day to day is very important. But having to pay attention to the many details of diabetes management every day is not always easy. Many people who have had diabetes for a long time have a condition called diabetes burnout.

You may have diabetes burnout if:

• You’re feeling burdened by diabetes
• You’re angry and filled with negative feelings
• You feel that diabetes controls your life
• You’re thinking of quitting your diabetes care

Diabetes burnout:

• Is very common among people who have diabetes
• Reduces your energy and interest in taking care of yourself
• Can be defeated