It can be tough news for your loved one to hear that she has developed Type 2 Diabetes. While it’s often a bit of a relief to know what has been causing recent health problems and then have an idea of how to proceed forward, your loved one may need some time processing and adjusting to the news. The way she manages these emotions can play a big part in how well she manages her recently diagnosed condition.
Frequent Emotions or Feelings of Newly Diagnosed Diabetics
- Anger. Your loved one might be really mad that she was diagnosed when so-and-so down the block is much more unhealthy and they don't have diabetes. That anger can become a stumbling block for your loved one to make the needed changes in her health decisions to get her disease under control.
- Shock. Shock can often leave a person feeling paralyzed. Your loved one might become unable to follow instructions on how to track his blood sugar levels or she might struggle with incorporating new healthy habits into her day. Shock can even lead to denial and a complete avoidance of the topic.
- Grief. It’s normal for your loved one to grieve the parts of her life that may need to change, especially if they were a big part of her identity.
- Anxiety. Thinking about all of the new things she’s going to have to learn, the changes she’s going to have to make, and the possible health consequences if she doesn’t can bring on a lot of anxiety. That anxiety can build itself up in her mind, making molehills into mountains that seem impossible to traverse.
- Depression. While all of the above emotions are normal for your loved one to travel through as she accepts this change in her life, if she finds herself stuck in one area, and cannot overcome it on her own, she might develop depression. Seeking professional help is best to assist her through this process.
Helping Your Loved One Through Their Emotions
Being a listening and non-judgmental ear can be a huge help for your loved one. She may not need you to fix her problem, she just needs you to listen to her fears, concerns, and worries about the disease. Once she shares her emotions with you, thank her for being so open and then ask if you can take some steps to help her manage both the disease and her mental health as she learns to live with his disease.
Some steps you might offer your loved one could include:
- Offering to go on walks with her to keep her active and reduce stress levels.
- Teaching her some relaxation methods like deep breathing or meditation. You could help her find a yoga class online or with a group that specializes in yoga geared toward her life stage.
- Helping her to meal plan so she is set up for success all week long.
Home Care for Diabetes Care
If the disease has reduced your loved one’s ability to perform certain tasks around the home, having a provider regularly visit to help can be a great resource for your loved one’s diabetes care plan. A personal home care provider can also assist if changing how your loved one eats is a big part of her journey of managing her diabetes care. She might need some extra help discovering what foods to prepare and how to prepare them if she’s never done that before.
