100 million Americans are living with prediabetes and diabetes. This is an astounding number.
However, with advances in medical science and technologies, diabetes is becoming more and more manageable.
This notwithstanding, being diagnosed with diabetes or having a loved one diagnosed with it is never easy.
While you will only see a doctor once in a while, it will be up to you to ensure that you steer and stick with your health plan if you are going to get your diabetes under control.
Have you just been diagnosed with diabetes? Here are some coping strategies.
1. Get Knowledge
Strive to learn as much as you can about diabetes. The National Diabetes Education Program is also very resourceful.
Aside from reading on the subject, speak to your doctor, join a support group, and even sign up for local diabetes talks if they are available.
Being knowledgeable about a disease helps you know what you up against and gives you more treatment and care management options to consider.
Think of it as going to war. Without knowing who your opponent is, fighting them becomes much harder to do.
2. Get Familiar with Your ABC’s
Talk to your health team about how to manage your A1C, , and cholesterol.
By managing these properly, you will significantly lower your chances of a stroke, heart attack, and other diabetes-related conditions.
Getting these complicates your condition and will make it harder to manage.
3. Stick to Your Treatment Plan
After your diagnosis, your doctor will discuss your management plan with you in full.
This will include medications, meal plans, exercise plans, and so on.
This management plan will be formulated with your condition in mind. For this reason, ensure to follow it to the letter. This includes talking to your doctor before making any changes to the plan.
If you see a different doctor for other conditions, ensure to mention that you are diabetic, as well as the medications you are on.
The same applies for when you buy over the counter drugs.
4. Talk to Someone
Having a chronic ailment is challenging financially, mentally, physically and emotionally.
If you are finding your diagnosis overwhelmingly stressful, it’s in your best interest to talk to someone that can help.
You can find a counselor that helps people in your situation come to terms with their health situations.
This way, you have someone to discuss your fears with who also has some knowledge about diabetes and coping mechanisms. They can help you reach a point of acceptance so you can start living your best life.
5. Expect Some Changes
At times, you get into a good management system, only for something to spring up. This might feel like a step back, but it really is not.
Some of the problems you will encounter will not set in immediately after your diagnosis. However, it’s still important to expect them, discuss them with your doctor, and find ways to live with them.
One such common problem is Erectile Dysfunction. This results from damage to your nerves and blood vessels.
Today, there are different treatment options for ED that your doctor can put you on.
6. Hold on to What You Love
When well managed, you can still live the life you had before your diabetes diagnosis.
What did you enjoy before? Is it work, a vacation every six months, swimming, sports?
Whatever activities made you happy and informed who you are, stick to them. You might need to discuss some with your doctor, but you still get to keep a semblance of the old you.
In a time when it might feel like a lot is changing, hanging on to thee activates can be very comforting and can help keep your spirits up.
Embrace Your New Life
Besides sticking to your health plan and taking good care of yourself, remember to let people in to support you in your journey.
At the depths of it, this diagnosis only affects your health. Your life, dreams, and aspirations remain unchanged and achievable.