It is not unusual for people with diabetes to fall pretty to burnout, particularly if they have been managing the condition for a long time. This is an affliction which stays with an individual for life, so after decades of control and regulation, the emotional aspects of management can get tough. It can get annoying and tiring having to balance blood sugars, take readings, and eat carefully every single day.
The age old motto ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going’ is very relevant to diabetes. From this perspective, it can be seen to mean that, even though diabetes control is not the most fun or enjoyable thing to do, it is just a part of life and the strongest of us simply get on with it. This is made easier though if you switch up your routine a little and try to avoid getting lost in a boring rut.
If you do find yourself struggling, you need to take a closer look at your diabetes management techniques and implement some positive alterations. You need to be thinking about making the management of your disease as easy and stress free as possible – the less energy you need to expend on staying stable, the more you will have to invest in the things that you do enjoy and love.
To achieve this, all you need to do is think about the following aspects of your disease.
Medication
It is useful to draw up a list of all the medications (and their doses) that you are being prescribed. Write down how long you have been taking them, whether or not the doses have been changed, and note down any concerns or issues that you might have with them. If you know about newer or potentially better medications available, write these down too and take the list to your doctor when you have your next check-up.
Exercise
It is imperative that you follow a regular exercise plan. You need to think about how you are exercising, what this exercise is doing for your body, and whether or not it is offering you the most efficient way to stay healthy. If you are not exercising regularly, you need to ask yourself why and come up with a plan of action for the near future.
Diet
What foods in your diet are providing you with the most energy and supporting the maintenance of healthy blood sugars? Are you eating anything which is bad for your diabetes? Do you eat regularly enough? This is an important question for diabetics, who must spread their food consumption out evenly through the day. Plus, you also need to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water.
Sleep
Do you get enough sleep? Do you struggle to fall asleep quickly after you go to bed? Have you ever had any problems with insomnia? If you answered yes to this last question, take some time to think about why this might be the case. Is your bedroom too light, too warm, or too cold? Do your medications prevent you from sleeping well? For those with prolonged insomnia, it is important to consult a doctor.
Doctors
And, speaking of doctors, you need to trust and feel completely happy with your own. Does your doctor make you feel comfortable, relaxed, and at ease? This is their job, so have a right to expect your healthcare professional to never make you feel anxious or unhappy.
If you take charge of your life and confront the aspects of it which are not good enough, you can change them and make diabetes management a natural instinct, like eating, drinking, smiling, or sleeping.
