Changing eating habits was the best thing to do for type 2 diabetes - part 2

Many of you mentioned things like reading labels, eating healthy, eating low carb, going sugar and grain free, intermittent fasting, working out what foods were raising blood sugar and more. These are all great tools for changing eating behaviors. What is it that keeps you motivated to continue using these tools rather than using them for some period of time and then falling back into old habits?

Often, we get knocked off our pins when something unexpected happens. This might be a death in the family, a job loss, problems with your home or car or you’re tired of the status quo, the hot/cold weather or a myriad of other things or it could be a new job or celebrations or travel or vacation. When things like this happen, sometimes you might get the idea that you deserve some kind of break, that it’s okay to eat some comfort food or relax your diabetic routine. This, too, may be okay. However, at some point, to get back to good diabetic control, you need to get back into that routine.

How do you do that? You might start by going back to the goal you started with that led you to eating better and getting your blood sugar into better control. Ask yourself, how far am I from where I was and what do I need to do to get back there. Be as compassionate with yourself as possible. It’s very easy to berate yourself for ‘falling off the wagon’ even if it was for a legitimate reason. Because there is always a lot going on in life, your own personal life, your family, community or the world around you, being flexible is a great trait to practice. Instead of “falling off the wagon” or “well, I might as well go all the way since I’m already on the way” or anything self-punishing like that, give yourself some grace and start taking the small steps you originally took to get back to where you want to be. You can use your prior experience, what worked and what didn’t, to help you here.

Affirmations are a great way to support yourself on this journey. Things like “I did this before, I can do it again” or “I learned so much from my past mistakes, I know now what to do or at least try.” Reaching out to supportive family or friends can help as well.

What do you do to get back on the ‘wagon?’ Please share in the comment section so we can all learn from each other!

Dr Elaine

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This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider for advice about a specific medical condition.

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