Q. My mother has diabetes but won’t take care
of herself. Our whole family is losing
patience with her. What can we do?
A. It is very difficult to watch a loved one
ignore his or her medical needs. Here
are several great suggestions adapted from Diabetes Burnout, by Bill Polonsky,
PhD, CDE:
· Don’t assume that you know what your loved one
is really thinking or feeling.
It is easy to say someone is in denial
about diabetes. You can’t know what
anyone thinks or feels unless you ask.
· Do try to understand how your loved
one’s actions make sense from HER perspective.
How does she feel about diabetes? What are her concerns for the future? Ask and then listen without interrupting or
judging. The only way to truly
understand why your loved one appears to ignore her diabetes is to ask her
directly.
· DON’T offer advice unless you’re asked
for it.
· DO offer to help.
During a quiet time when neither of you
is angry or upset, let your loved one know that you are concerned about her
health and that you’d like to help.
Emphasize your understanding that she is in control of any
diabetes-related help that is offered or taken.
· DO remind her on a regular basis that
you love her.
· DO get educated.
Find a diabetes education program in
your area and enroll in it. You, not
her! If your loved one wants to join
you, great! In addition to learning excellent diabetes information, you can
meet others and discuss how they cope with similar frustrations.
Q. I was just diagnosed with glaucoma. Is this something that people with diabetes
tend to get?
a. People with diabetes develop glaucoma more often than those without diabetes. It is important to see your eye doctor on a regular basis for medical treatment to lower the eye pressure. Untreated glaucoma can destroy the optic nerve and destroy a person’s vision.
Q. Is it normal to
have frequent vaginal yeast infections?
a. Vaginal yeast infections are quite common in
women who have diabetes. If you do have
one, try the following:
· Keep your blood sugar level
within a healthy range, as determined by your health care team.
· Get plenty of rest.
· Avoid or reduce stress.
· Keep the affected area
clean and dry.
· Ask your doctor about
antifungal creams and suppositories.
They can be helpful.
Q. I read about a great new diet online. How can I tell if it is safe to try?
a. There are many popular diets out there, but
just because people use them doesn’t mean that they are healthy or safe.
If you
wish to try one of these popular diets, avoid those that:
- Eliminate or severely restrict a
single food group.
- Make miraculous health and weight
loss claims. If it looks too good
to be true, it IS too good to be true!
- Quote personal experience as its
only proof of effectiveness
Check to see if a product is supported by scientific
research from a respected medical center or organization such as the American
Diabetes Association, Joslin Medical Center, or Diabetes Research Institute. And be sure to review your dieting choice
with your health care team before you start it.
Each person is unique. Your meal
plan must be compatible with your health needs.
- For more great articles by Janis Roszler, visit the e-version of our magazine at walgreensdiabetes.com
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