A crucial part of caring for diabetes is how you approach your condition. It is ok to have mixed feelings about your health. Some may experience both emotional highs and lows. In turn, your feelings, thoughts, and emotions can impact the care you take to manage your overall wellbeing. Coping refers to how?you?address a situation, in this case, the way?you?manage?your?diabetes. Coping mechanisms can have an impact on health outcomes. It’s an essential part of self-care, which can vary from person to person. The goal is to foster and expand?your healthy coping skills to help?you?take charge of?your health. There are many ways to cope, with?some being?healthy/helpful, and?others unhealthy/unhelpful:
Unhealthy/Unhelpful Coping May Include:
Avoiding?Care?Team?appointments?
Not following medication recommendations?
Smoking, overeating,?and?not exercising?
Using alcohol or drugs??
Not sleeping enough?
Healthy/Helpful Coping May Include:?
Feeling knowledgeable about your condition, medications, and?how to?best care for your health?
Creating and implementing an individualized plan so you can take charge?of your diabetes?
Having a support network of friends and family or finding a support group?
Meditation, yoga,?and?movement?
Journaling or other self-care activities???
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In order to put these things in place, it’s important to work with your?Care?Team?and let them know when you are experiencing challenges. Your?Care?Team?is often your first point of contact, and they can refer you to the specialists you need. Be?open?to sharing your concerns, like what challenges you are experiencing?when?caring for yourself and other details that will help you achieve better health.????
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Need help with managing your diabetes? with one of ACPNY’s Registered Dietitian-Nutritionists and/or Certified Diabetes Care Education Specialist.???
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