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  • With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators

    Nancy Klobassa, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.

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  • Jan. 10, 2009

    Welcome to 2009

    By Nancy Klobassa, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.

13 comments posted

As a new year gets into full gear, you might find yourself reflecting on the previous year's happenings and trying to look at what you did and what you would do differently this year.

Some of us are trying to stick to our new self-inflicted New Year's resolutions. Most of these resolutions have to do with things like losing weight, exercising more, and being a nicer person.

If you have diabetes, you have an additional set of behaviors to work on changing or just continuing to manage through the coming year. "Willpower" seems to be the key to all this change in our life. The following excerpt is from "Diabetes Burnout," by W.H. Polonsky, Ph.D.:

"Many people, including a large number of health care providers, believe that the explanation is a lack of self-discipline, too little willpower, stupidity, or denial. In other words, they think you are just not trying hard enough. But there is little scientific evidence to support these beliefs. Indeed, our research has shown the opposite to be true: those with the poorest self-management are often more frightened about complication than those with better self-care."

So, if willpower isn't the answer, what is?

  • Set up your environment to support you. Don't leave favorite snack foods in easily available places.
  • Don't expect perfection. Remember, diabetes is a balancing act.
  • Remember to have patience, it takes time to change old habits. Most studies show it takes 6 months to change a habit permanently.
  • Find support. Choose friends that are positive and supportive of you.
  • Set realistic goals. Choose lifestyle changes you are willing to work on, don't change behaviors to make your healthcare team happy.
  • Increase your knowledge base. Learn more about your disease, get a better understanding of why you are doing some of the things you do to take care of your diabetes.
  • Plan ahead. Organization in the long run will save you time.
  • Find alternative ways to deal with your emotions such as music or pets.

And please, share with us all of your ideas. Thanks, and Happy New Year!

- Nancy

13 comments posted

blog index

  • September 2, 2009 3:26 p.m.

    When do you recommend starting diabetes screening on a healthy non-diabetic adult and how often should that person be screened.

    - Lois

  • January 22, 2009 2:02 p.m.

    I have a question about high morning fasting blood sugars. I had one Dr tell me that it is because my body is trying to compensate for my not eating enough. She said that my body is dumping higher levels of glucose in my blood so I can have enough energy to get up and function in the morning. Does this sound right? I take glucophage, 1000 mgs at night and still wake up with 160 to 180 blood sugars. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

    - Cheryl Morgan

  • January 22, 2009 1:55 p.m.

    Jacky: I am type 2 diabetic and I did the Atkins diet for 8 months. It was great for my diabetes, but awful for my gallbladder! I ended up having to have it removed. I didn't know that if you do that diet on an extended basis you need to take a pill that will reduce this risk. It has something to do with the way your body metabolizes fats. I skipped that info in the book. Best bet is to check with your Dr before you do this diet and monitor your reaction to it. The book recommends some baseline blood work at the beginning that I did not have done, wish I had, maybe I would not have lost my gallbladder. I did lose 51 lbs but gained it all back after the gallbladder surgery. I hope my experience can help someone else be healthier.

    - Cheryl Morgan

  • January 16, 2009 11:38 a.m.

    My potassium levels are up. What does that mean?

    - Doreen

  • January 14, 2009 3:41 p.m.

    Robert, Many times at diagnoses the pancreas is quite stressed and with medication and lifestyle changes the blood sugar does come down. Your blood sugars are running close to a healthy target range, but are not in a non-diabetic level. Continue to test your blood sugars and work with your health care provider.

    - Nancy and Peggy

  • January 14, 2009 3:28 p.m.

    Madeline Eysie, Radiation therapy is stressful on the body and illness and or stress can trigger high blood sugars. Continue to work with your health care provider to adjust your medication.

    - Nancy and Peggy

  • January 14, 2009 3:15 p.m.

    gizmo, sometimes exercise has the opposite effect of raising your blood sugar. This usually happens if your blood sugar is high to begin with--typically more than 300 mg/dl or 16 mmo/l. When the blood sugar is high, exercise causes your body to produce extra sugar, and not enough insulin is available to use it. We don't recommend exercising if the blood sugar is higher than 300 mg/dl.

    - Nancy and Peggy

  • January 13, 2009 9:39 p.m.

    I use exercise to control my diabetes, but recently when I check my blood glucose it is higher after exercising. Why?

    - gizmo

  • January 13, 2009 7:52 p.m.

    I completed radiation therapy for breast cancer in November. Since then my blood glucose is off the wall (over 300). My AlC was 6.2 and is now over 8.0!!. I'm really upset at this turn of events. My dr. changed my insulin and addes more Metformin. There must be a solution somewhere.

    - Madeline Eysie

  • January 13, 2009 5:43 p.m.

    Are there any health insurance companies willing to insure diabetis 2 individuals?

    - Valera Anderson

  • January 13, 2009 5:13 p.m.

    My family wants to go on the Atkins Diet and eat only meat/fat for 2 weeks and then add limited vegetables/salads. (1) I have type 2 diabetes and would like to know if I can go on this diet also. I take Metformin and glycide and am limited to 150 carbs a day. (2)How will this diet affect the blood sugar of my family members.

    - jacky@jackychristian.com

  • January 13, 2009 3:44 p.m.

    I have type 1 diabetes and have since I was 18 and I am now 58. It is taking its toll on me in a big way now. My biggest problem is controling it. I don't think I do anything different but some vials of insulin work better than others. Some days it runs over 300 and when I which to a new vial it will plummet at night to 60 or below. How is that possible?

    - Renae

  • January 12, 2009 4:36 p.m.

    I was diagnosed type 1 back in March 08'. My blood sugar level was 545. I started taking insulin shots (45 units)every morning. Around July 4th, i went without insulin for 2 days because i left it at home while i went up north. When i returned home, i tested my sugar level and it read 95. So, i decided to stop taking insulin and to check my sugar everyday. from July to dec, it was reading 78-110. Now, i have reads from 88-164. is this normal or was i misdiagnosed?

    - Robert

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