Manage Expectations to Conquer Your Diabetes Goals for 2024!

I learned to type on a manual typewriter, then used an electric one. When printers came out, I couldn’t believe how much it changed my work. It was a miracle. Instead of having to retype (with carbon paper) a whole page because of one mistake, I could simply make a quick change in the document and reprint it. Unbelievable! This changed my expectations (and patience) for getting things done. If it took more than 5 seconds to print a document, I was agitated because it “took so long.”

We live in the time of “I want it NOW!” Amazon sometimes delivers items within hours of ordering it. If we have to wait overnight, we feel agitated and irritated – “Where is it?” When we get sick, we want to go to the doctor, get a quick something to take and expect to feel better RIGHT NOW.

Unfortunately, changing our bodies or healing them takes as long as it takes. If you are taking on the challenge of making a change in your lifestyle that will lead to better blood sugar control, you may be in for a potential letdown. Your body has a rhythm, your cells turn over at different intervals, depending on the tissue, and the rate of your healing depends on how consistent you are with implementing the changes needed. In order to get your metabolism back to functioning properly, for example, you must give yourself and your body time to heal. This might mean lowering your carbohydrate intake or changing your activity level or the amount of sleep you get at night.

Rather than setting yourself up with unrealistic expectations, consider slowing down and accepting the fact that these changes take time. Having created routines with food or exercise or sleep over decades, you and your body deserve to take the time to change them. You can’t turn a ship on a dime. Neither can you make big lifestyle changes quickly and expect them to stick.

What can you do?

1. Set realistic goals and expectations for achieving them.

2. Tackle one small thing at a time. Taking on a really big goal or more than one will lead to a feeling of failure and potential setbacks.

3. Be a partner with your body and your health. Work together, not against each other.

Look at the goals you set for 2024. Take one and break it down into bite-size pieces. Getting to better health is a journey, not a destination!

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.

This episode was produced and marketed by the Get Known Service