How to Support Your Diabetic Loved One

For those who are diagnosed with diabetes, it can be difficult news to bear with the risks and lifestyle changes that are involved. For friends and family, it can be challenging to know how to support the individual. To ensure that you can assist your loved one with their health and strengthen your bond with one another, there are a few ways to show that you care.

Create a Fitness Routine

Physical fitness is just as important as diet when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle as a diabetic. Create a fitness routine that you can practice with your loved one to ensure that they feel supported with your participation in the activities by their side. Start off with low-intensity activities and ease into strength-training exercises as they become healthier.

Stock the Pantry with Healthy Choices

One of the many ways that diabetics can make poor choices for their diet is by becoming tempted to eat unhealthy foods that are stocked in the pantry. Help your loved one make good choices by placing clean foods in their kitchen, which include whole grains, fruit, vegetables, lean meat, and products that are sugar-free.

Assist with Checking Blood Sugar Levels

One of the many drawbacks of suffering from diabetes is having to check blood sugar levels each day. It can be easy to forget the task or avoid doing it due to the discomfort that is often involved. Assist the individual with checking the level each day and remind them of when it should be performed to ensure that they avoid any complications or health risks.

Transport Your Loved One to Appointments

Although your family or friend may be fully capable of driving themselves to a doctor’s appointment, they may need the emotional support of having someone else transport them. Offer to schedule their appointments and drive them to and from each visit to ensure that they don’t feel alone. It will allow them to feel more comfortable with any news or complications that can arise as their health is monitored.

Avoid Policing Their Behavior

You may know the rules that your loved one is instructed to follow from their physician, but it’s important to avoid policing their behavior. Ultimately, the individual is responsible for their own choices and needs to have the freedom to make their own decisions with their health. Avoid nagging them on their diet or trying to drag them out of the house to exercise. Your efforts may push them into rebellion and suppress any desire that they have to remain healthy.

You may feel that a diabetes diagnoses that your friend or family member receives is beyond your control, but there are a number of ways to help the individual. You can show your support by assisting them in lifestyle changes and simply offering your company with their daily activities. By remaining close in relationship, you’ll help your loved one remain strong and make wise choices for their health.