How can I get my family to help me manage my diabetes?

Your family and friends can be your most important support system because they care about you. But they cannot help you with diabetes unless they understand diabetes and you tell them what you want from them. Try some of these ideas for getting support:

• Ask them to learn about how diabetes affects your body and emotions.
• Ask for help when you need it.
• Invite them to attend your health-related visits or classes.
• Include them in your new healthful lifestyle.

Most people who care about you will want to know how diabetes affects you. They may have many questions or worries. You can teach them what you know about your diabetes so you can avoid misunderstandings. On the other hand you may need to let your friends or family know when you can manage things yourself.

Your family is going to be either the best medicine for your diabetes or the worst medicine for your diabetes. They really need to be on board.

Most people with diabetes eat with their loved ones. The good news here is that eating healthy for diabetes is also just plain eating healthy for anyone. The problem is, that may not be the way they are used to eating. Or how they want to eat. If your family eats differently from you, all kinds of bad things can come of it. Beyond food, having the support and encouragement of your loved ones is a big help.

My advice? Talk, talk, and talk again. Communicate what you need and what you don't need from them. They don't have crystal balls. They don't know what you need until you tell them.