Coping with a change in my diabetes treatment
Change is a part of life when you have diabetes, but usually the changes are small. Coping with small changes can be annoying, but most people get used to making changes over time.
However, when a significant change in your medicine is suggested, such as when your doctor suggests adding another pill to manage your blood sugar or recommends that you begin an injectable medicine, it can seem upsetting or stressful. First, you may worry that your diabetes is getting worse. Second, you may feel as though you have failed in your efforts to keep things under control. These are commonly held beliefs, but here is the good news – neither is true.
It is important to realize that type 2 diabetes is a disease that changes over time, even if you do everything right. Most people with type 2 diabetes, even if they follow their diabetes care plans closely, will eventually need more medicine, such as an injectable medicine. When this happens, don’t think the change has occurred because you did something wrong. This is just the nature of type 2 diabetes. And taking more medicine does not mean you are sicker. It just means you need something different to help keep you healthy. The most important thing you can do now is to work on accepting this change in treatment. You can start by learning what you need to know about making these new medicines a part of your new daily routine.
Ask your doctor or diabetes care team questions until you are sure you understand what it is you need to do and how to do it. Be sure to ask them for materials you can read at home.
Coping with the stress of change
Making big changes in the way that you manage your diabetes can be hard, but you can do it. Remember, you shouldn’t have to deal with diabetes alone. In addition to family and friends, make sure you have a diabetes care team to guide you and support your efforts. Stress can affect your blood sugar. Many people who have diabetes find that when they are under stress, their blood sugar goes up – or sometimes down. When you are under stress, you can lose the energy you need to take good care of yourself.
Here are some specific tips that may help you cope with stress:
- 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 or doctor may be able to recommend a local support group. Or you can call your local American Diabetes Association.
- There are many ways to prevent or relieve stress. Some people find listening to music relaxing. Others enjoy soaking in a hot bath or meditating. Being active can be a great stress buster! Yoga and tai chi are two activities that can both relax you and burn calories at the same time. Other people enjoy dancing. Getting enough sleep can also make you less susceptible to the effects of stress.
Getting comfortable with injectable medicines
Advancing from pills to injectable medicine can be a particularly troubling step for many people. Taking insulin sometimes causes the most worries, including safety. But insulin can help you feel better and keep your blood sugar levels within your goal range. Knowledge is power, so if insulin has been suggested, find out all you can about it. Think about what you need to do to make it a positive part of your life.
- You and your doctor will develop your personal insulin plan based on your meal plan and your activity level. There are many different ways you can take insulin. You may begin your therapy with one injection of a long-acting insulin analog. Learn more about Novo Nordisk long-acting insulin. Or perhaps a premixed insulin analog that provides a benefit of working quickly after you eat and provides between-meal insulin coverage might be right for you. Learn more about Novo Nordisk premixed insulin. You may want to spend some time exploring the insulin section on this site and discuss this information with your doctor.
- Talk with your doctor about prefilled disposable insulin pens as an alternative to using a vial and syringe. These easy-to-use pens fit into your pocket or purse and provide a discreet way to inject insulin. Learn more about several types of prefilled disposable insulin pens.
- Consider the first couple of weeks of insulin therapy to be a “trial period.” Each person is different and can react differently to the same treatment. When your doctor changes your diabetes care plan, you’ll need to try it out for a while to see how it works. Be patient. It may take your body a while to adjust to the insulin before you know how well it is working.
- Be sure to alert your doctor to any problems you are having with insulin. Some of your blood sugar goals may need to be changed. Or maybe your goals are fine, but your treatment plan needs to change to help you meet them. Your doctor or diabetes care team will work with you to adjust your treatment plan, if needed.
In summary
Making changes in your medicine can sometimes be tough. Healthy coping means accepting change as a part of the package when you have diabetes. Over the years, you can expect to have many changes in your diabetes care plan. Some will be welcomed. These may be because your health has improved, you are living a healthier lifestyle, or you have started taking a new medicine that is helping you better manage your blood sugar. Some changes may be more bothersome. This may result from the natural changes in type 2 diabetes over time. Either way, how you cope with change can greatly affect how successfully you manage your diabetes and how healthy you stay in the long run.
