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Forgive yourself
By
Janis Roszler, RD, CDE, LD/N
Laura ignored her diabetes for years. Her doctors told her that her weight,
food choices, and inactivity could cause diabetes complications in the future,
but she didn't care. She felt fine and had other concerns on her mind. She
promised to focus on her diabetes one of these days, but not right now.
Unfortunately, complications did develop. She now has neuropathy pain in her
feet and problems with her vision. She is so angry at herself for ignoring the
warnings of all of those around her. If only she had done this. If only she had
stopped doing that. Laura is so upset with herself that she finds it very
difficult to move forward.
If you live with diabetes-related complications and believe that they happened
because you ignored past advice, forgive yourself. Some of your issues will
improve if you take better care of yourself and future complications can still
be avoided or delayed. You have a great life ahead of you, so try to start each
day with a positive attitude. Here are some suggestions to help you do that:
• Don't blame yourself
Everyone who has diabetes, type 1 or type 2, inherited the potential to develop
it. We believe that some type of environmental trigger causes it to kick in,
such as an illness or weight gain, but these possible causes only bring diabetes
to the surface if a person has inherited the potential to develop it. Without
that gift from your ancestors, you would never have it.
• Look at the glass as half full, not half empty
I cried because I had no shoes,
Until I saw a man who had no feet.
Don't dwell on the problems that you have, but focus on all that you are still
able to do. Don't accept "no" for an answer. People with diabetes win Olympic
medals, star in movies, climb mountains, and even fly airplanes around the
world. You have a lot of living to do. If your current diabetes plan feels too
restrictive, discuss other options with your health care team. Diabetes
shouldn't prevent you from enjoying life.
• Help yourself feel better
When your blood sugar level is in a healthy range you will feel better. Meet
with a registered dietitian to learn how to eat well. Sign up for an exercise
class or enlist a friend to walk with you each day. Exercise and a normal blood
sugar level can lift your mood and help you avoid future problems.
Forgive yourself and move on. If you aren't able to do that, seek the assistance
of a qualified mental health professional who can help you move on from this
point. Don't let diabetes stop you from being all that you can be. You have a
lot of living to do and deserve the best that life can offer.
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