Last year, I stopped making resolutions and listed a few goals instead. I did pretty well, even though some opportunities came up during the year that pushed a few things I had planned to the side. Instead of beating myself up for not checking everything off the list, I’ve decided to praise myself for being flexible. How’s that for a juicy rationalization?
The New Year is fast approaching. Is it really almost 2019? WOW! This time of year most of us start to think about our goals or resolutions. Unfortunately many of these are broken so soon after that it's almost comical to see how quickly it happens. How do you handle your goals for the new year when it comes to diabetes? Do you make some major changes or try to tweak as you go?
This week we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States. It's a time to spend with friends and family, reflecting on our blessings and giving thanks. My first grade students have been making lists of what they're thankful for as well: food, clothes, family, friends, a home, school, toys, etc. As I think of my thankful list, I have decided to include one thing that might baffle people. Diabetes.
I remember when Diabetes Forecast, the magazine published by the American Diabetes Association, stopped using the word “diabetic” as a noun. The editor wrote an essay about how saying PWD (person with diabetes) was much better. Given my love of all things concise, I thought no one would know the acronym and using “person with diabetes” all of the time would be clunky. I didn’t get it.
Someone once joked about Diabetes Awareness Month saying they were very much aware of their own diabetes. As a result, I smile whenever I hear the phrase. On the serious side of things, though, there is more to diabetes awareness than being aware of our own diabetes. There are risk factors to share with those around us, making others more aware of their chances of having diabetes, as well as helping others become more educated about diabetes. Not only that, but within the diabetes community we need to remember that no two people live with diabetes the same way.
November, Diabetes Awareness Month, will be here before you can say “Oh no, Thanksgiving is right around the corner.”
There are many ways you can get involved with diabetes awareness:
My stepdaughter called last week and asked: “what’s the plan for Thanksgiving?” Something akin to panic set in. I know you don’t want to hear it, but the holidays are upon us.
So, how do you survive the oncoming onslaught of food and stress?
First, do not, under any circumstances, stop exercising. Whether you walk, run, hike, climb, lift, jump, stretch, play, dance, or paddle, keep doing it.
For people living with chronic illness, our physical health is typically the priority. Doctor appointments, medication, lab work, nutritional needs, etc. Very often our emotional health is put aside. How do we balance our physical and emotional health while dealing with chronic illness?
Your emotional well-being probably isn’t something you ever discuss with your health care team. You probably talk to them about test results, diet, exercise, medication. You know, the medical stuff.
Earlier this month I was invited to Boston University School of Medicine for a two-day conference entitled "Bridging the Chasm between Pregnancy and Women’s Health over the Life Course." At this conference we discussed resources (or lack thereof) available for women diagnosed with gestational diabetes during and after pregnancy. We talked about medical resources as well as peer to peer support.