10 tips for coping with diabetes

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Sometimes you will have those days where you’re discouraged and feel completely overwhelmed with your diabetes. It’s important when you’re feeling this way to take a step back and challenge your perspective so you can find a way to stay motivated to keep moving forward. 

Managing diabetes is an ongoing process, and there are so many daily tasks involved with your management, which can become challenging at times. We wanted to share some encouragement with you, so we asked the DOC to share the best advice someone has ever given them in life that they can apply to coping with diabetes. Here are 12 tips from the community we hope will make coping with diabetes easier for you.

1. Choose How to Deal

“We don't always get to choose what happens to us, but we do get to choose how we deal with it! It's ok to be angry and frustrated with this. But use that anger and frustration to motivate you to take care of yourself. Because the more you take care of yourself the less this disease defines you!” - Kristin Sasha Bear McConnell

2. Listen to your Body

“Everyone dealing with this is different. What they do to cope may not be good for you. Listen to your body and it will help you. And remember one thing, you are not alone.” - Cecelia Montague

3. Take Care of Yourself First

“Take care of yourself first, so you can take care of others and do anything you want.” - Rose Schonberger

4. Find the Diabetes Technology That Works for You

“After being type I for more than 45 years, and being on the pump for 8, I can tell you that a pump is a MUST for great control as well enjoyable convenience.” - Mickey Cohen

5. Make the Most of Everyday

“Check your BG regularly, eat responsibly, exercise when you can, and know your limits. There are so many variables related to diabetes, just make the most of every single day.” - Ken Freeze

6. Connect with your Local Diabetes Community

“Connect with your local diabetes community, some days finding the right people to ask may be tough. It's easier if you can hand that bottle to someone instead of hoping someone sees and responds.” - Douglas Scalia

7. Remove Frustration from Vocabulary

“Frustration is not in your vocabulary, because you are bound to make mistakes; diabetes and in Life.” - Andre Howard

8. Live a Healthy, Productive Life

“People with diabetes can live healthy productive full lives. Diabetes is not a death sentence. You can work, have a family, go on adventures, and live to a ripe old age. Just take care of yourself and you can have it all!” - Tracy Gruszka Kimball

9. Accept the Things You Cannot Change

I refused to accept that I had diabetes for a long time, and fought it instead of accepting it, and really learning how to manage it as early as possible. I'm doing better now, but spent way too many years of poor management due to my stubborn refusal to truly accept it.” – Steve Moskowitz

10. Be your own Advocate

“Be your own advocate. Don't be afraid to speak up for yourself.” - Deanna Messerschmidt 

Which one is your favorite piece of coping advice?

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

- Medtronic Diabetes insulin infusion pumps, continuous glucose monitoring systems and associated components are limited to sale by or on the order of a physician and should only be used under the direction of a healthcare professional familiar with the risks associated with the use of these systems. 

- Successful operation of the insulin infusion pumps and/or continuous glucose monitoring systems requires adequate vision and hearing to recognize alerts and alarms. 

Medtronic Diabetes Insulin Infusion Pumps 

- Insulin pump therapy is not recommended for individuals who are unable or unwilling to perform a minimum of four blood glucose tests per day. 

- Insulin pumps use rapid-acting insulin. If your insulin delivery is interrupted for any reason, you must be prepared to replace the missed insulin immediately. 

Please visit http://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/important-safety-information for complete safety information.

 

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Blog comments

I have also heard the people do exercises with some instruction to avoid type 2 in the future, Is this correct ? is overweight cause of diabetes ? correct me please if am wrong. thank you.

Submitted by Brandy (not verified) on

In reply to by Commenter (not verified)

I see and talk to shrinks cause of this disease.

Submitted by Michelle Stevens (not verified) on

In reply to by Brandy (not verified)

Diabetes is a serious disease but you can have a full productive life. Take care of you!

Submitted by Brandy costa (not verified) on

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Thank you

Submitted by Karrie Hawbaker (not verified) on

In reply to by Brandy costa (not verified)

You're welcome!

So I use to receive pump and supplies through MEDTRONIC. They were great. Till they stopped supplying MEDICARE PATIENTS. It makes me feel like a welfare client. I'm currently on the MEDTRONIC 630G PUMP. It's great. I tell people on T1D FORUMS MEDTRONIC PUMPS ARE THE BEST. AND ME PERSONALLY WILL ALWAYS BE A MEDTRONIC GIRL,,,WOMAN. LOL I just don't like at all that MEDTRONIC DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MEDICARE CLIENTS???

I'm sorry to hear this, Brandy. While we do still support Medicare customers, however certain regions do require our customers to use a distributor. If you haven't already, please reach out to our supply team to discuss your available option and any issues you have experienced with your current supplier and we'll be happy to see what we can do to help.

Submitted by Rene (not verified) on

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I only look at Carbs when I pick up an item. Is this a good idea?

Submitted by Steve miller (not verified) on

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I'm just going from a 751 to the 630 my training is tomorrow I'm kinda excited what sensors are you using?

Submitted by Joyce (not verified) on

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I still have to wear my old pump. It does not save the history. Plus I have to put in my numbers n the amount off insulin. Use to I have a meter that send it to my pump but I cannot get one touch strips.
I cannot start my new pump till the end of April. That is how long it takes to get into my doctor.
I am concern about the meter to that one. Why can my card pay for this strips? I need them. Help me.

Submitted by Karrie Hawbaker (not verified) on

In reply to by Joyce (not verified)

I'm sorry you're having trouble, Joyce. Our supply team can answer any coverage questions you may have about your test strips and may have suggestions for getting your current strips. Please give them a call at 800.646.4633, option 2.

Submitted by Aileen (not verified) on

In reply to by Commenter (not verified)

I've been type 1 for 24 years now.
Today I just started a Medtronic device after having an Animas for 3 1/2 yrs.. I dnt like change too much but I try to be positive and know in time this will be a piece of cake too.

Submitted by Khiel (not verified) on

In reply to by Commenter (not verified)

Thank you for this very useful article. You can walk leisurely, or bike. Routinely exercise every day for at least 30 minutes a day. An active lifestyle will help you control diabetes by lowering blood sugar. In addition, this can also reduce your risk of heart disease, and help you lose weight and reduce stress.

Submitted by Mary (not verified) on

In reply to by Commenter (not verified)

Hi I’ve been T1 64 yrs I’m 65 Was using the Acc U Check and now on Medtronic 670G my A1C has been 7 to 7.3 can’t get below 7 I’ve tried everything and I’m 4/10 and weigh 250 metabolism I think so depressed from my weight can you help I’m on XXXXXXX to help loss weight worked the first two weeks now nothing

Hi, I'm a Type 1 and have been for 41 years. I've gone through so many comments about being under control and "how did you get it" Ive always been good about my weight 5'8 145-150lbs. but I recently had a mini stroke my psychiatrist was the one who noticed it. I just felt bad that day and didn't want to do anything I felt as if I was tired. I really don't know what caused him to make the diagnosis but he did and called my husband into his office and asked him a couple of questions. He said I need to go to the ER at the hospital just down the road my husband asked whether this hospital had better doctors he told him that he'd go to this one since they have doctors that specialize in this and that I'd have better treatment there than other hospitals. So to make a long story shorter, that's where we went. I was amazed being 53 and having a heart problem...so soon


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