Making diabetes management work for the whole household
You might say diabetes is a family affair. Diabetes affects the entire household.
For example, if you are responsible for preparing meals for the family, others may not want to eat what you prepare. Teens may resist eating at regular times. Family members might not like the fact that you need to spend more time managing your diabetes.
Also, since the risk of diabetes can run in families, there might be more than one person in your home with diabetes. Lifestyle factors can also increase the risk for type 2 diabetes, so if you have diabetes, other people in your family may also be at risk, including your children.
When you have diabetes, having the support of the people in your life can make it much easier to cope. But you may not always get the understanding and support you need from your loved ones. In fact, sometimes they may actually get in the way of your diabetes management.
The first step in your own healthy coping is to understand why your loved ones may be reacting in such unhelpful ways. Here are some possible reasons:
- They don’t understand diabetes or the importance of your diabetes care plan
- They don’t recognize the benefits that adopting your healthy eating and activity plans can have for them, especially if they are at risk for developing diabetes themselves
- They’re trying to be supportive, but they’re not going about it in an effective way
- They don’t understand how to help you
With a little effort, you can help your loved ones understand how they can support you in your efforts to manage your diabetes.
Cope better by getting the support you need
Here are some tips to help you get your loved ones’ support:
- Help them learn more about diabetes. When they know more about it, they will be better able to support you in a helpful way
- Be specific about the help you want. Tell them what would be helpful. Tell them, too, about what doesn’t help. Try not to let frustration get in the way. When you talk with loved ones about your needs, try to be patient and listen to their needs and viewpoint
Get the whole household involved
It will be easier for you to stick to a healthy meal plan and stay active if the whole household is making similar efforts. The kinds of healthy eating and activity changes you need to make probably can benefit your loved ones too. If your loved ones are resistant, try making small changes at first. Soon, you’re likely to find that everyone has adopted healthier habits, almost without noticing it.
In summary
It will be easier for you to follow your diabetes care plan if you have the support of your loved ones. But you may need to ask for the exact type of support you need. A healthy eating and activity plan will not only be of benefit to you but can also benefit other members of your family who may be at risk for type 2 diabetes.
