Receiving a diabetes diagnosis can be devastating. Regardless of your age, gender, or background, being diagnosed is not only frightening, but daunting; chronic illness requires close attention to diet, exercise, medication, and symptoms, all of which have the potential to either procure lasting bodily harmony or wreak havoc.
If you are feeling the blues, don’t let it sink you down. Here are 3 tips to keep in mind.
#1. Talk With Your Doctor
Whether you are going in for testing or have already received your diagnosis, talk with your doctor and make a detailed plan for how you will manage your condition and care. Although it is a lot to handle, you will feel far more comfortable and in control of your situation if you create a detailed, step-by-step plan to handle your upcoming medical needs, including dietary changes, blood pressure monitoring, exercise alterations, and medication portioning.
While it is likely that your doctor will create all of this without you first having to ask, don’t be afraid to prompt for more guidance or aid. This is your life and your body, and you have every right to seek out every possible care option. If you are near the end of your appointment and you feel confused, unsure, or insecure, don’t be afraid to ask for another appointment. You can also speak with a certified nutrition expert and a host of specialists whose livelihood revolves around the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.
#2. Consider a Therapist or Counselor
A diabetes diagnosis means a lot of change; your lifestyle will likely need tailoring, your daily medications will change and be added to, and your plans might swerve (family, travel, etc.). You might not need to process these changes with a professional, but it is perfectly normal to need to talk about your upcoming lifestyle alterations and work through the potential grief of your diagnosis. Now is not the time to “suck it up” or similarly ignore your condition; instead, ask for help when you need it, and talk to someone who can help you process your grief and maybe even some anger or disbelief.
#3. Find Support
Any chronic illness can prove alienating, and one of the greatest obstacles for newly-diagnosed patients is finding somewhere to fit in. You might feel at odds with your friends and family or anyone who has known you apart from your condition. Find support in local diabetes support groups or even online forums. Although this may seem silly, knowing that you are not alone can go a long way in boosting your mood and giving you hope for a normal future.
