Five Fab Family Favors to Help Manage Diabetes

Living with type 2 diabetes can be challenging at times, but it is completely manageable. Remembering to have perspective and accept support are two big parts of managing your diabetes. Individuals with diabetes may have a lot of numbers and medications to keep track of, but it is important to see the big picture. A diabetes diagnosis means you need to be a little more vigilant in your efforts to be healthy, but with practice and support you will be able to see big changes in your overall health.
 

Five Fab Family Favors
Asking your friends and family for help is crucial in helping you maintain healthy blood glucose levels. Many family members and friends actually want to help but are not sure how. Here are a few tips to start the conversation.
 
1. Out of Sight, Out of Mind
If foods that are high in carbohydrates, like desserts, candies and soda are hard to say no to, ask family members to keep these out of the house. Fewer temptations in sight means you’re much less likely to indulge in these treats.
 
2. Move it
In our culture we often meet up with friends over a meal, a cocktail or a fancy coffee. Unfortunately restaurant foods, alcohol and sugary beverages, like many coffee drinks, are not a healthful options for individuals with diabetes. Instead of dining out, ask a friend to go for a walk, or do some window shopping; move together instead of eating together.
 
3. Learn to say no
Undoubtedly you will have friends or family members who may not understand the severity of the complications of uncontrolled diabetes and may try to coax you into unhealthful behaviors. Be firm with these friends; explain that, again, splitting a sundae for dessert is not an option for you and would appreciative more support. If your explanations of the serious consequences of uncontrolled blood glucose levels  falls on deaf ears, perhaps you need a short break from these would-be saboteurs.  
 
4. Share the good news
Yes, for many people, type 2 diabetes is reversible. Gradual weight loss over time is the best treatment for type 2 diabetes. Loosing 10% of your body weight can significantly reduce your risk of developing complications associated with type 2 diabetes, and the more weight you are able to lose, the better the outcome.  So share this good news with friends and family and ask for support in your efforts to lose weight.
 
5 Make it a family affair
Eating fewer refined carbohydrates and exercising more, both key for individuals with diabetes, are healthful behaviors for everyone. Improve the health of your whole family. Keep healthful snacks around, like fruit, veggie sticks and small portions of nuts. Instead of an ice cream cone after supper, get everyone moving with a walk, bike ride or interactive video game system. When the health of your family improves you are more likely to sustain this behavior because you can see the benefits in others too.