Diabetes is a disease that requires a large amount of self-management. Our articles this quarter showcase how taking a more active role in your healthcare, asking questions, seeking help, clarifying goals, can improve your feelings of wellness and control over your health and improve outcomes.
The Behavioral Diabetes Institute |
| Everywhere She Goes, She Shows Her Support | |
We all know how most stories from diabetics start; My name is Amy, I am 28 and was diagnosed with Type1 in October of 1994...blah, blah, blah. Well, I have a different story, one many of you might be able to relate to, past the "I have diabetes too" thought. Yes, I was diagnosed in 1994, but what didn't follow diagnosis was any help (or even a mention that I was likely to face depression of any sort) with the emotional struggle that came with my diagnosis.
Here I am, nearly 16 years later, and FINALLY, I have found that help.
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| Why Should I Test My Blood Sugar? | |
Do you often ask yourself this question? For people with Type 2 diabetes, understanding and knowing what to do with blood sugar information can be a frustrating, confusing, and discouraging experience. However, a new strategy called "Testing in Pairs" can provide important and encouraging guidance on how to manage diabetes more effectively. "Testing in Pairs" can help you determine the impact of what you eat, what you do, what medicines you take, and how you react to stress, on your blood sugar levels. You may find out you have more control than you know!
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| Is There A Healthy "Good Enough"? |
 We often hear from people who feel terribly frustrated that they aren't doing well enough with their diabetes, even though they have reached the established ADA goals for well-managed diabetes (such as an A1C under 7.0%). They believe that they need to work harder and harder to get their numbers even closer to "normal", non-diabetic levels. It can feel like you are never doing well enough, no matter how much effort you expend. But there is good news: maybe you ARE doing well enough after all! Several new studies suggest that pushing those blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol numbers lower and lower than the ADA goals may not be that beneficial. Talk with your doctor to determine what's right for you.
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The Behavioral Diabetes Institute (BDI) is the world's first 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to tackling the unmet psychological needs of people with diabetes. To find out more, visit us at www.behavioraldiabetes.org. |
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| Improving Results Through Communication |  |
Statistics show that only 13% of people with diabetes are meeting all three major metabolic goals established by the ADA. Many health care professionals find that their efforts to help their patients achieve metabolic success often leads to frustrating results. Dr Polonsky provides a set of strategies that professionals can use to help their patients take more effective action.
If patients are having a tough time managing their diabetes, Dr Polonsky's suggestions for how professionals can discuss patients' metabolic results may lead to more productive outcomes.
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