Getting Support When You Have Diabetes

Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) health condition. It needs a commitment to a healthy lifestyle besides correct medicines. It's mostly up to you to control your blood sugar. But your diabetes health care team can help. These experts will teach you how to manage diabetes. They'll teach you about the health risks it brings and how to find them early. With practice, controlling your blood sugar will become a habit.

Your team will work with you to create a treatment plan. The goal is to keep your blood sugar controlled. This can delay or prevent other health problems. Your team is likely to include:

• A primary care provider. This might be your regular health care provider. This may have been the first person to tell you about diabetes.
• An endocrinologist. This provider has special training to treat people with diabetes. They can confirm which type of diabetes you have. They can also let you know if there are new findings in diabetes care that might help you.
• A registered dietitian. This provider can teach you how healthy eating can help you control blood sugar.
• A diabetes educator. This might be a nurse, dietitian, or pharmacist. They'll teach you about managing diabetes.
• A health psychologist or social worker. This person can help you cope with your feelings and stresses.
• Other team members. These can include:

Managing your diabetes can be a lot to handle. It might affect your home and work routines. Don't be afraid to let your family, friends, and work supervisor know about your condition. They can support your need to stick to your treatment plan.

Family and friends can support your efforts to take care of yourself. So don't feel bad asking for help when you need it. Ask them to learn along with you if they have questions or aren't taking your diagnosis seriously. It might be hard at first for them to understand some of the changes you're making. Tell them that your health is your priority. Their support can help keep you focused and confident as you learn to control your blood sugar. Don't let them stop you from making good choices to keep your diabetes under control. Sometimes people need to change their circle of friends. They need to be around people who support the lifestyle changes they must make. The motivation and cooperation of your loved ones help you stick to your goals and achieve good blood sugar (glycemic) control.