A diabetes diagnosis doesn’t just mean taking certain medications throughout the day (although that is part of it). There are many ways this chronic illness affects a life – some worse than others. It’s essential to understand them, though, as knowing what’s to come will help you prepare. Whether it’s you or a loved one that’s been diagnosed, learn these five ways diabetes affects your life.
1. A More Rigid Schedule
Many people don’t realize how much freedom they have with their time until they are diagnosed with a chronic illness. Even if you have to get to work at a particular time and pick the kids up, you can usually decide for yourself when you’ll eat and when you’ll take five minutes to yourself. With diabetes, your schedule often looks a little more rigid. With the need for lifestyle changes, taking medication, and eating at certain times of the day, diabetes affects your day-to-day life by making it more regulated. This might be annoying at first, and may even require reminders, but over time it will become second nature. Plus, with solutions like the blood glucose monitoring system, you’ll have an easier time managing your schedule.
2. The Need For Better Food Choices
Most people can get away with devouring a huge takeaway or a bag of sweets at the weekend without much consequence, but people with diabetes have to think a little more carefully about their food choices. The wrong meal could create a rapid increase in blood sugar levels, which can be dangerous.
Over time, people with diabetes learn the foods they can and can’t eat, and when trying something new, they ensure they don’t eat too much of it just in case. While this is sometimes an inconvenience, a lot of the time this shift in a diet helps people with diabetes lose weight and live a healthier life overall.
3. Impact On Relationships
With changes in lifestyle and an increase in stress, diabetes can have a real impact on current relationships. From causing tension between family, reducing the amount of time with friends, or reducing the sex drive, the results of this can be upsetting. Luckily, the solution is quite simple – better communication between loved ones. If this turns out to be a struggle, a counselor can help.
4. Increased Stress Levels
While suffering from a chronic illness, there is an increased risk of high-stress levels. Unfortunately for diabetics, this can be even more dangerous, as they are already at risk of high blood pressure. Of course, there are always ways to manage stress. With enough self-care, relaxation, and an understanding of mental health, people with diabetes can live a relatively stress-free life. Remember – a little stress is ordinary for anyone!
5. Frequent Doctor Visits
Lastly, people with diabetes can expect to be in the doctor’s office more than the average healthy person. After the initial diagnosis, doctors recommend going every three months. After some time, though, this can be reduced to every six months. People with diabetes need to attend every single appointment, as that is a crucial part of managing the illness.
