The Road to Change After a Diabetes Scare
Other than perhaps being diagnosed with cancer, a possible diagnosis of diabetes is one of the most life-altering medical situations you can find yourself in. Diabetes is a serious disease that requires many lifestyle changes, such as limiting sweet foods, testing blood-sugar levels and keeping up with regular visits to the doctor. Sometimes, a diabetes diagnosis can be such a shock that the patient falls into a depression in the weeks that follow.
A number of symptoms can point to diabetes, but many of these same symptoms could also indicate other disorders, which is why having the proper testing is so important. Symptoms such as frequent urination, extreme thirst, insatiable hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, slow healing times and tingling or pain in the hands or feet can all indicate diabetes, so if you are experiencing any of these, be sure to talk to your doctor about getting tested.
Dealing With a Diagnosis
If you are tested and find out that you do have diabetes, you will likely experience a range of difficult emotions. First, you may be in denial, thinking that the doctor must be mistaken or that a diagnosis of diabetes is really no big deal. Lots of people have it, right? Why should you have to change anything?
When the seriousness of the situation eventually sinks in, you’ll probably be hit with a wave of fear. You may envision yourself dying in a hospital bed or unable to walk on your own, and these visions may cause you terrible sadness. What will happen to your children? Who will take care of them? It’s important to know that these feelings are completely normal, and once you begin to get a hang of managing your disease, you will feel much more empowered and hopeful.
Sometimes, you might feel a great deal of anger over your diabetes, even after you’ve worked hard to accept your situation. Maybe you don’t want to change your lifestyle, take medications or give up the foods you once loved. You might be angry at yourself, for having been lax about your health. These feelings are also normal, and sometimes you will have no choice other than to sit and process them. Seeking outside advice can sometimes help, either from a qualified life coach or a support group.
How a Life Coach Can Help
Depending on your individual diagnosis, you may need to make a number of changes in order to manage your diabetes, including following a diet and exercise program, monitoring your blood sugar and taking your prescribed medications. At times, all of these changes may feel overwhelming, which is why having a life coach as a member of your team can be very helpful. A life coach can help you deal with the feelings associated with your diagnosis and allow you to better manage the rest of your life at the same time. Developing diabetes doesn’t mean you still don’t have a job to show up for, children to raise and a marriage to nurture. Sometimes, having a little assistance can help you keep things in balance.
It’s important to remember that a diabetes diagnosis isn’t a tragedy, it’s a second chance. As long as you enlist the proper support, take the right steps to care for your health and manage your emotional well-being at the same time, you will surely have a bright future ahead of you.
