- With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
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Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Nancy Klobassa Davidson and Peggy Moreland
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., B.S.N, C.D.E
Nancy Klobassa Davidson is a registered nurse who has worked in diabetes education for 17 years. She is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) and is currently in graduate school working on a Master of Science in nursing (M.S.N.) and health care education.Nancy works with adults who have type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Nancy is coordinator of the Diabetes Unit's intensive insulin therapy program within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Nancy has worked extensively with insulin pump therapy and continuous interstitial glucose sensing.
Peggy Moreland, R.N., M.S.N.
Peggy Moreland is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.Peggy graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Education from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. A certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.), Peggy enjoys working with patients to set and achieve diabetes self-management goals.
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Living with diabetes blog
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Dec. 6, 2012
Diabetes and stress: Tips for present moment awareness
By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
We're currently in the midst of the holiday season. Your mind may be filled with all kinds of tasks you need to accomplish — running to the store, picking up the dry cleaning, ordering gifts, grocery shopping, planning parties, cleaning house, baking, finishing projects, manipulating schedules, and the list goes on.
Retail businesses are pushing for an earlier start to the holiday shopping season, from "Black Friday" to "Brown Thursday," or Thanksgiving day. Some businesses are pushing even further to include "White Wednesday" — the day before Thanksgiving Day. If these black, brown and white shopping days help the economy, I'm all for it. But it's so easy to get caught up in the frenzy of the season.
The emotional and physical stresses of the holidays and life can be hard on anyone. And if you have diabetes, you have the additional task of coordinating all these activities along with your diabetes management. Often, diabetes management slips when we're busy. Stress raises the blood glucose, too. If your blood glucoses run consistently higher, it can affect how you feel, resulting in feeling tired and low in energy.
Does this multitasking really work? From a number of articles I've recently read, it doesn't work well for most of us. We can't truly concentrate on more than one thing at a time; our mind shifts between the different tasks. Also, trying to juggle multiple tasks, rather than focusing on each task, may actually take longer overall.
Have you heard of present moment awareness? It means living in the present moment, having awareness of right here and right now. Present moment awareness is the opposite of an automatic or routine response. The next time you rush to do some task, slow down and take in the small things happening around you. Notice the dimples in your child's face when he or she smiles, the soothing sound of water coming from the faucet when you fill up your glass, the shadows in the room when you turn on the lights, or the smell of the cat litter box.
You have the power of the moment. Ask yourself whether you want to:
- Do the task now?
- Do the task later?
- Don't do the task?
You really do have a choice. I think present moment awareness is a new version of "stop and smell the roses." Slow down, notice and enjoy the small things happening around you, prioritize, and enjoy the season.
Best wishes to you and your loved ones,
Nancy
5 comments posted
April 21, 2013 8:52 a.m.
I do not have diabetes, however, I just read an article on The People's Pharmacy web page that studies are showing that stress can lead to type II diabetes. I have a very difficult time with stress. I think I'm programed that way and some is learned behaviour from my parents. I've been trying to break the cycle for years. I do very good for a week and then relapse. This is very good advice. I attempt this view with everything not just holidays. Because it seems stress can be handled better if we stop racing time. Things go smoother, less gets messed up or forgotten, just a bunch of things when we stop racing the clock to get things done. Still a work in progress for me. I think time has a conscious and it secretly challenges my subconscious mind to a race. My subconscious mind then accepts this challenge and its game on. My body then had no choice but to respond to what my brain is telling it to do. Next thing I know I'm in this crazy mad dash racing time again. It's rather silly.
- Carree
January 11, 2013 11:15 a.m.
this is great advice.
- rose
December 15, 2012 2:30 a.m.
A fantastic and most helpful post-thankyou.
- stephen
December 11, 2012 4:28 p.m.
I've had my stress for the Christmas season when my husband had emergency open heart surgery. So I am thankful I'm not a widow and we will have a quiet stress free Christmas. I can remember the years of stress when young with baking and shopping. It wasn't worth the stress so getting older and wiser has it's advantages. Christmas blessings to all who read this.
- Ferne
December 7, 2012 1:12 p.m.
I like your examples of slowing down. I recently read about the dreadful effects of high stress on diabetic women's heart health. We must slow down, like you suggest. Just because multitasking has been "hyped" does not make it a good thing. Along with $200 Coach purses & $180 shoes, it's way overrated. We're "supposed" to be multitasking, in the same way that we're "supposed" to be out there shopping for all the latest in electronics! Nonsense. I agree with you: Live in the moment -- one moment is all we have. Sit down...turn the lights down low...get cozy...turn on music...turn on the Christmas tree lights...let the telephone answering machine do it's job. Pause. Reflect. Write some old-fashioned Christmas cards & send them by "snail mail". People love to get them. Bless someone with a note or a simple "gift certificate" for babysitting or a backrub. You'll be blessed, sleep better, feel more rested, less harrassed. I totally stayed away from all stores after Thanksgiving on purpose & it was great. I won't give in to the "hype" that we must be out there shopping, gathering all the bargains that we possibly can! I'd rather shop on a quiet Tuesday evening, without the crowd, without the stress & take my sweet time. My health is worth it. We deserve good health. Happy Holidays to all!
- Linda
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