Coping with Blood Sugar Management is a Journey, Not a Destination

Sometimes, it’s the past that needs to be dealt with. After years of pushing feelings down to keep them at bay, we may find ourselves in a place where we can’t keep using food or alcohol or other mind-numbing activities to avoid the turmoil inside us. Other times, the thing we need to deal with may be happening right now, both positive – a great new job, moving into a new house, a new baby or grandchild – and negative - the loss of a job you loved or grief at the loss of a longtime friend or family member.

It could be coping with the idea you have to manage your blood sugar. You may have to adjust aspects of your life and adapt to new routines to manage your blood sugar. When too many changes happen in a short amount of time, you may feel overwhelmed and believe you can’t cope. This could lead to low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.

Coping means adjusting to different demands or stressors. This, in turn, leads to greater effort on your part that may require using more energy than you used before in your daily life. This type of long-term stress can increase the stress hormones in your body that may raise your blood sugar levels.

Coping with high blood sugar is a process, not an event. It is ongoing, even when your blood sugar is stable. Monitoring and paying attention to how you eat, sleep, exercise and so on may help.

Being flexible with yourself and new coping skills may be better for you and more effective than rigidly trying to control change. With your doctor’s help, choose the most appropriate strategy FOR YOU to meet the demands of diabetes or any difficult situation.

Here are some strategies to try:

1. Problem-solving strategies can be very effective, especially if you are motivated to get a handle on what is happening and figure out a course of action.

2. Maintaining emotionally supportive relationships with others can be helpful. Being able to talk to a trusted friend allows you to get any fears or concerns out of your head and helps release some of the pressure you may feel.

3. Allow yourself time. Don’t rush through issues. Give yourself some grace for hiccups along the way.

4. Talk to your doctor about what lifestyle changes would be best for your situation.

Give these a try. The goal here is to create coping skills you can use in all aspects of your life.

Dr Elaine

Download my free 30 Day Guide to Manage or Reverse Type 2 Diabetes

This document is for educational and informational purposes only and solely as a self-help tool for your own use. I am not providing medical, psychological, or nutrition therapy advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your own medical practitioner. Always seek the advice of your own medical practitioner and/or mental health provider about your specific health situation. For my full Disclaimer, please click Here.

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