Detox your self-talk for your diabetes

“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.” – Henry Ford

Sometimes, it’s hard to see that you have more power than you think you do. This quote from Henry Ford tells us that we get to decide, we get to achieve and create what we want in this life. You may not think so but think again. It comes down to – your thinking!

You can talk yourself into and out of good health, good moods, joy, pain, anger and more. Your mind is a powerful thing. We know health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure and more affects the brain. So does your self-talk.

Here are some examples of negative thinking that can damage your health further or lead you to better health.

“I missed a week of exercise. I might as well stop going. It will take me forever to get back to where I was.” This is an example of all or nothing thinking. You might turn this around with a few changes. “I missed a week of exercise. Because I’ve been exercising regularly, I’ll be able to get back in shape pretty quickly.”

“The only reason I’ve been making meals at home is because I don’t have the money to eat out with my friends.” This is an example of minimizing the positive. This could be turned around to “I’ve been eating at home more lately and my blood sugars have been better than usual.”

“I should be able to get my blood sugars down because I’ve been eating better but I can’t. Forget it, I’m a failure!!” This is an example of blaming and shaming yourself. Think about it this way: “My blood sugars aren’t where they should be. I’m eating pretty well so I need to look at what else I’m doing that can keep my blood sugars high.”

“I can’t do any exercise because I have back pain.” This is an example of over-generalizing. You might consider something like: “I have some back pain but my doctor said I’m okay to walk. I’ll start slow and work up to longer walks.”

When you recognize these types of negative comments you make to yourself, you have the opportunity to:

1. Recognize the negative thought patterns you currently have

2. Start talking back to yourself. Start with STOP! Ask yourself, “are these thoughts true?” “Will these thoughts take me toward my goal of better blood sugar control or away from it? Is there a different thought that will support me to move forward?”

3. Looking at your thoughts objectively, you’ll begin to see that you aren’t the failure you tell yourself you are. You have been able to do a number of things that help your blood sugar control. Focus on the things you have done and are doing well and do better with the things you haven’t.

You’ll find that you might be a little happier, a little freer and a little more joyous when you detox your self-talk from berating to supportive.

Dr Elaine

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

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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