Being diagnosed with diabetes can come as a shock, but don’t panic. It may seem like it is difficult to come to terms with, but around five million people in the UK have diabetes and there is a huge amount of support and information available. Here are some top tips to help you deal with your diagnosis and move forward positively.
There are a couple of different types of diabetes, and how to treat them varies. Knowledge is power, and by finding out more about diabetes in general, and your type of diabetes in particular, you can make the right changes to your lifestyle.
Making Diabetes Easier is a fantastic resource that holds a huge amount of free knowledge and advice. They are a partner to the NHS and have a wealth of tips, support, and products that can help you manage your diabetes. With the right approach, you can mitigate the effects diabetes can have on your health, so you control diabetes, and it does not control you.
Your diagnosis can cause you some distress, and this is completely understandable. Managing your stress will help you to manage your diabetes, however. Type 2 diabetes is the more common diagnosis of the two types, and it is linked to hypertension.
By reducing your stress levels you can help manage your blood pressure, which in turn reduces the impact of diabetes on your body. Medication and diet are two of the most important components of diabetes management but do not overlook mindfulness and stress management as a part of your treatment plan.
Your GP and nurses are great resources that you should utilise for advice. They have been dealing with diabetes and treating patients for a long time, and you should pay close attention to what they have to say about your treatment plan.
Never be afraid to ask questions or ask for clarification. Your healthcare team can help you with more than just medication too. Managing your physical fitness helps to manage your diabetes, and they will be able to help you make an appropriate fitness plan to lose excess weight.
Understandably, some people can be reluctant to share their diagnosis with friends and family. It can be an upsetting diagnosis, but by sharing the diagnosis, you build a support network. You will need the help of your family and friends to help you manage your diabetes.
The people closest to you need to be aware of what to do if you have a diabetic emergency, sometimes called diabetic shock or hypoglycaemia. The people close to you will be concerned, so it is important to have the knowledge you need and a plan in place to reassure them.
A diabetes diagnosis can be devastating to hear, but life with diabetes is not debilitating. There are some fantastic resources available, as well as medication, that can help you deal with diabetes and prevent it from getting worse. You can make it a lot better, by working with your healthcare team and family to make some simple lifestyle changes.
