4 tips on life after a diabetes diagnosis

Getting a diabetes diagnosis is a blow. The good news is you’re in daily control of how to manage this condition. Check out the following tip on successfully managing diabetes.

Diabetes demands daily attention. You can't wave a magic wand and rid yourself of diabetes but you can minimize the impact it has on your health and your quality of life.

Unlike most diseases, diabetes is patient-centred — meaning that you, not your doctor, are calling the shots every day.
Your doctor and your dietitian will help you formulate a game plan for keeping your blood sugar in line, but it's up to you to make smart food choices, monitor your glucose levels and figure out an exercise regimen you'll really stick with.

You should find out how to get help from your doctor when the office is closed. Is there an alternate number you should call? Who are the doctors who will be on call when your doctor is out of town? Which emergency room should you use? Ask these questions before a crisis strikes.

All those certificates and diplomas on the doctor's wall can be very impressive and intimidating. But does he know how to repair a car, fix a gourmet meal, speak a second language or paint?
Remind yourself that you have talents that he doesn't have, and that he has talents that you may not have. One person is not better than the other.

Keep this in mind and you may not be as intimidated or shy about asking questions.

People who've managed their diabetes well often say they are healthier with diabetes than they were before they were diagnosed; they say that the disease helped them get their priorities straight.

They have better habits and happier lives, and they're enjoying brighter moods, greater energy and a stronger sense of personal control.

You can, too, and it may take less effort than you think. But to take on this issue more directly: There is nothing inherent to diabetes to make you feel persistently tired.

Blood-sugar dips, if they happen, can temporarily affect your energy. But overall, how energetic you feel is linked mostly to your attitude, nutrition and fitness levels, just as they were before your diabetes.

You can manage diabetes through diet, exercise and knowledge. These tips will help you get on top of this condition and get on with your life with panache.