Diabetes can be a difficult condition to contend with. Many men and women suffering from diabetes feel at odds with their family and friends, as the illness can be alternately debilitating and easy to manage and has many unexpected complications and repercussions. As with any chronic illness, the support of loved ones is pivotal in successfully managing symptoms and complications.
Offering support to a loved one can prove difficult, particularly for those unfamiliar with diabetes and all of the work it entails. Fortunately, there are 3 things you can do to show your unwavering support for anyone in your life experiencing the ups and downs of diabetes, starting with making sure you are familiar with their condition.
#1. Familiarize Yourself
Familiarize yourself not only with diabetes as a whole but also with your loved one’s particular form of diabetes. Whether the person in question suffers from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, there are going to be facets of the condition unique to their lifestyle and biological constructs. Ask questions and be prepared to hear some 
potentially difficult aspects of living with diabetes. Offer to go to pressing medical appointments and (with permission) ask questions about your loved one’s doctors and specialists.
Familiarize yourself with the quirks particular to their way of managing their condition. Learn how and when they prefer to check their blood sugar, their go-to method of snacking when the need for a lift in blood sugar arises, and the signs of a dangerous shift in blood sugar levels.
#2. Lend an Ear
Make it clear that you are available to listen, whether they need to bounce some ideas off
of someone, express grief at their current condition, or even just explain the difficult parts of living with diabetes. Your ear is not intended to serve the same purpose as a counselor or therapist but is, instead, is a simple show of support. Your support can mean the difference between feeling alone in their diagnosis and feeling as though they can still lead a normal life.
#3. Adopt Similar Habits
If your loved one is living with you, show your support by adopting similar lifestyle habits, where possible. Avoid keeping excess amounts of sugar and refined foods in the house. Try to aid in creating simple meals designed to hold blood pressure steady, rather than indulging in prepared, heavily processed foods. Engage in a regular exercise regimen with them, demonstrating support by acting as a workout buddy or walking partner.
Showing support does not require loud, large demonstrations of affection. Instead, the best way you can show your support is through upholding dietary and lifestyle restrictions, and treating your loved one with diabetes with the same care and respect you’d want for yourself through learning about their condition, offering a listening ear, and showing genuine tokens of solidarity.
