Helping Your Family and Friends
By editor | January 1, 2008
Your diagnosis of diabetes mellitus affects not only you, but your family and friends as well. This “ripple effect” is due to the time and energy you need to take good care of yourself. While you need support from your family and friends, in time they will need to be supported, too. It goes both ways; with support going each way, the necessary physical and emotional adjustments can become a part of everyday activity.
Increasing Their Understanding
Be sure a family member or friend goes with you when you attend diabetes education classes, when you are questioning what was said, two heads are better than one. In this way, the other person will also have the opportunity to learn what to expect, what is involved, how to treat an insulin reaction, and how to prevent subconscious sabotage of your program. Perhaps this last item is one of the most important. That “one little bite won’t hurt you” comment can lead to more bites of food than are desirable for you. If friends or family do either too much for you (smothering you) or too little (ignoring you and your disease), you may feel upset. Both situations are unhealthy for you, mentally and emotionally. You need to be educated to the point at which you become independent in your own self-care. If everything is done for you your shots, blood-glucose tests, meals, and so forth then you feel like less of a person. You become more dependent on the other person, and you stop growing. On the other hand, if a family member refuses to discuss your disease and your feelings, shuns your company, or refuses to help you with shots when you are very ill, you will likely feel rejected.
In a healthy, balanced situation, friends and family members support you in self-management. They are willing to give you an injection or blood-glucose test if necessary and to purchase your supplies when you are ill. Hopefully, you can also share some of your feelings with them without their scolding you or getting upset.
Tagged under:blood glucose test Diabetes Diabetes Care diabetes education diagnosis of diabetes diagnosis of diabetes mellitus glucose tests self care
Topics: Diabetes Care |
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