Page 32 - Diabetes

questions, then there’s a follow-up ques- need from your loved ones, experts sorts of things and supplies, snacks, meal
tionnaire,” said Polonsky. The more recommend finding online support planning and doctors’ appointments,”
detailed 17-item questionnaire (DDS17) groups like the Diabetes Online Com- said Weiner. “You can keep a running
pinpoints the distress to identify ways munity, tudiabetes.org, or other groups to-do checklist of diabetes-related pur-
to intervene and help. through Facebook. chases or tasks you need to complete,
It’s important to surround yourself and once you find a method that works
Find support with health-care providers who are not for you, try to stick with it.”
Support might be found right in your judgmental and find ways to encour- Staying motivated means accepting
home or down the street. Reaching out age positive self-care. There’s nothing that you don’t have to be perfect at
to family, friends and co-workers for worse than going to a doctor or nurse managing diabetes. The Joslin Diabetes
support may help you better manage and being reprimanded for not having Center recommends that individuals
your diabetes. Please don’t try to do perfect blood sugar readings, explained allow themselves the occasional blood
everything yourself, advises Weiner. Weiner. “I always remind my patients sugar fluctuation—which will relieve
“Speak with family members or friends how happy I am that they kept their some of the stress associated with trying
about joining you in healthy eating or appointment. Just coming to the office to achieve perfection. “Feeling stressed
your new exercise routine.” is a big step for many people and we about living with diabetes is normal,
If your family and friends are not should encourage that type of behavior.” but it’s possible to make peace with
providing what you need, Polonsky your condition,” said Polonsky.
developed an “etiquette” sheet avail- Step-wise approach Remove obstacles in your life that
able at the Behavioral Diabetes Insti- Avoid being overwhelmed by the mul- might prevent you from achieving your
tute (behavioraldiabetes.org) to help tiple diabetes-related tasks needed every goals. If making healthy salads seems
those without diabetes better under- day. Instead, find ways to break the big like mission impossible, then visit the
stand what you need. There are 10 tasks into small ones. “When things get salad bar at the local store and make it
tips in all, but the first piece of advice overwhelming, you may not even know yourself. If you feel guilty not using your
is: “DON’T offer unsolicited advice where to start, so try breaking it down gym membership, cancel it and exercise
about my eating or other aspects of into small steps,” advises Heyman. at home instead. Keeping the same
diabetes. You may mean well, but giving He uses the example of trying to testing and medication schedule can
advice about someone’s personal hab- reduce your A1C by 1 percent. “If also help you stay within a good range.
its, especially when it is not requested, that is your goal, identify the specific
isn’t very nice. Besides, many of the things you can do today to get there. Don’t give up
popularly held beliefs about diabetes For example, you can check your blood Diabetes burnout is something that you
(‘you should just stop eating sugar’) sugar at least four times a day and can recover from and conquer, said
are out of date or just plain wrong.” count carbohydrates at every meal and Heyman. “I help my patients get moti-
If you don’t get the support you take insulin to cover.” vated by thinking about longer-term
Weiner fully agrees and uses the goals like seeing their kids graduate
SMART goal approach. SMART means from college or get married.”
10 SIGNS OF BURNOUT the goal should be Specific, Measur- Keeping your frustrations to your-
Ask yourself these questions to determine able, Action-Oriented, Realistic and self only isolates you further and
whether you’re experiencing diabetes burnout. Timely. If you want to exercise more makes you feel all alone with your
and enjoy walking, take a look at your disease. Find someone to listen to your
1. Do you feel overwhelmed managing your
diabetes and never feel like you’ll ever get it calendar for the week and figure out frustrations who won’t judge you or
under control? “specific” days and times when you try to fix your situation, said Vieira.
2. Are you ready to “go on strike” with your can walk, recommends Weiner. “For “The daily weight of thinking about
diabetes and ignore all your doctor’s advice? example, you could make a plan to take your blood sugars, thinking about
3. Are you angry, frustrated or experiencing other
strong feelings about caring for diabetes? a 20-minute walk on Monday mornings what you’re eating and thinking about
4. Do you feel like giving up when it comes to at 6 a.m. and also walk Wednesday and exercise is subtle, but exhausting.”
managing your diabetes? Thursday evenings after dinner. It’s OK Another thing that many experts
5. Have you convinced yourself that living with to change goals as needed.” recommend is admitting that you’re
high blood glucose levels is okay? sick of diabetes. “I ask others to admit
6. Are you lying to yourself and loved ones about Avoiding the burn
managing your condition? that they’re tired of treating their dia-
7. Do you feel your best is not good enough to Trying to manage or minimize diabetes betes,” Weiner said. “When they’re
control your diabetes? burnout is the goal for many. One tip ready to move on, then we work
8. Do you feel frustrated with diabetes management recommended by Weiner is for individu- together to create realistic goals that
and are your numbers out of range? als to get better organized. She suggests they can tackle one step at a time.” †
9. Have you started eating junk food and avoiding
healthier meals? using a checklist to keep diabetes care-
10. Are you telling yourself that diabetes related tasks from falling off your radar. Paul Wynn, a writer based in New York, has
complications won’t happen to you? “You can create master checklists for all covered health-care trends for more than 20 years.
30 March/April 2018