Controlling Diabetes and Your Lifestyle
Lifestyle
By Coventry City Council on 2012-10-12 10:06:50
Diabetes is the name for the condition where the blood sugar level in a person’s body consistently runs too high. It is estimated that more than 16 million people in the United States have diabetes. While modern treatment for Type One and Type Two Diabetes allow people to live a nearly normal life, things can still be challenging sometimes as diabetes can have an impact on your emotions, relationships, and everyday life.
After being diagnosed with diabetes, depression may set in because you suddenly realize that you are dependent on insulin injections and you have to take care about what you eat and drink to avoid serious medical complications. You may start to feel as if you’ve lost control of your life. You may also feel that you have to change your lifestyle or give up some of the things you enjoy doing the most. However, most people with diabetes find that they don’t have to find a whole new lifestyle. Instead they find that they just have to make a few adjustments to the lifestyle they already have.
Family and Relationships
There is no doubt that diabetes can have an impact on family relationships. Concern for your health may mean less time and attention for children and your spouse. However, with a bit of creative handling the diagnosis of diabetes in a family member could be a starting point for everyone in the family to get themselves into better lifestyle habits such as exercising and making better food choices. There are also support groups available for families having difficulty coping with this disease in their family.
Sports and activities
If you are active in sports, you shouldn’t feel that you have to give that up, in fact, exercise is recommended. Being active can play a special role for people who have Type Two Diabetes. A moderate amount of exercise will help your body use its own insulin better and improve your blood pressure. It can also help you manage your weight.
Traveling
Traveling into different time zones or countries where medical supplies may be unreliable can be a problem sometimes for people with Type One Diabetes. The key here is to make sure you have an adequate amount of supplies before leaving and make sure you take medications at the appropriate time.
Avoiding Stress
It is very important to avoid stress if you have diabetes. Stress hormones can sometimes cause blood sugar to rise and you may need more insulin or other medications to control your blood sugar level. Avoiding stress may not be easy if you have an occupation that is stressful by nature. However, it is important to make a conscious effort to keep the stress level down as much as possible.
