One of the best ways to forecast how someone will manage their diabetes is to look at the support system around them. While diabetes may have an emotional impact on families, families in turn affect how a person managing diabetes takes charge of his or her life. Each person and every family that is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is different and unique. Treatment plans and lifestyle modification for diabetes should be tailored to your specific and unique needs.
This change in lifestyle that comes with living with diabetes may influence the whole family in many ways.
What is most important is that the support from those living closest to you may help make the difference between you feeling overwhelmed to being empowered.
Family support is also one of the primary drivers of how well you manage type 2 diabetes on a day-to-day basis.1
When a family member is diagnosed with diabetes, it offers an opportunity for the entire family to come together and engage in learning about diabetes, nutrition, and adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Ensuring everyone is informed and educated will help foster trust and communication, helping you in your transition to a new lifestyle together.
Diet plays an important role in managing diabetes, and it is an area where the family may make a significant impact. Here are some diet strategies for the entire family:
- Explore diabetes-friendly recipes that the whole family may enjoy. Make cooking a family activity, involving even the children in trying out simple recipes.
- Remember your carb count and stick to healthy portions using The Plate Method below2:
Photo source: American Diabetes Association. Eat good to feel good.
(You may still enjoy rice, fruits, and even occasional desserts with diabetes. It is all about moderation and following the guidance of your healthcare provider and dietitian).3,4,5,6
- Incorporate diabetes nutritional supplements like Glucerna into your meal plan. Glucerna contains a balanced nutritional formulation which includes 35 nutrients, a unique blend of slowly digested carbohydrates, and 4x more inositol (vs. previous formulation) designed to help manage blood sugar levels while enjoying tasty options. This addition to your meal plan may be beneficial when striving to maintain balanced nutrition and manage blood sugar effectively.
Glucerna delivers a dual action for blood sugar control3. It may also contribute to the slow release of carbohydrates that may help the body produce insulin naturally; and together with inositol, help convert sugar into energy that may be used by the body14, with balanced diet and regular exercise.
Glucerna is known to help reduce peak blood sugar by up to 64% vs. standard formula as part of type 2 diabetes management program with balanced meals and healthy lifestyle.9 It also helps stabilize blood sugar up to 90% of the time vs. lifestyle intervention alone, with balanced diet and exercise.10.
Physical activity is one important form of lifestyle modification for diabetes that comes with multiple health benefits. Engaging in exercise as a family may be motivating and enjoyable. Consider these ideas:
- Participate in fun outdoor activities together like going to a theme park or going camping or hiking. A hike or camping surrounded by greenery may do wonders for your brain and elevate your mood. It allows the family to bond and improve communication too.
- Make fitness and recreational sports a part of your family's lifestyle. Recreational sports offer a good aerobic workout and increase serotonin levels. And what is better than team sports for the family? Remember the old saying - a family that plays together, stays together.
- Engage in stress-relieving activities like playing family games, doing puzzles, or taking up a hobby as a family. Stress management may help improve blood glucose control and overall well-being.7
Taking nutritional supplements may also help keep you physically fit. When you take Glucerna as part of your type 2 diabetes management plan and while practicing healthy daily activities, it may help you lose up to 15 lbs in 6 months11. The nutritional supplement is known to help reduce weight and waist circumference11, and it helps curb hunger between meals, with balanced diet and exercise.12.
Fun is the best antidote to stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine (adrenaline).8
Lowering stress is known to help improve blood glucose control and provide other psychological and physical benefits.7
As one grows older and life challenges change, we often forget the healing value of fun and laughter as medicine for the body and soul.
Slowly taking small steps in making lifestyle modifications for diabetes management may bring about success. There will be highs and lows but together as a family, making diabetes a part of life may come with great confidence.
The more time you set aside for play and relaxation, the more you take your mind off things. Life might gradually transition from feeling like work and routine to becoming pleasurable. And that change will make living well as a family, while managing diabetes a lot gratifying.
Glucerna comes in Vanilla and Chocolate flavors.
References:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Friends, Family and Diabetes
2. American Diabetes Association. Eat good to feel good.
3. Malaysian Dieticians Organisation. Type 2 diabetes and fruits.
4. British Heart Foundation. 8 diabetes myths you shouldn't believe.
5. National Library of Medicine. The prevention and control type-2 diabetes by changing lifestyle and dietary patterns.
6. American Diabetes Association. Carb counting and diabetes.
7. Good Therapy. 10 ways to boost dopamine naturally.
8. National Library of Medicine. Cortisol responses to mental stress, exercise, and meals following caffeine intake in men and women.
9. Devitt AA, Williams JA, Choe YS, Hustead DS, Mustad VA. Adv Biosci Biotech. 2013;4:1-10.; ASC Certification – Glucerna Digital Materials 23-Oct-2023
10. Peng J, Lu J, Ma X, et al. Br J Nutr. 2019;121:560-566
11. Chee WSS, et al. BMJ Open Diab Res Care. 2017;5:e000384. doi:10.1136/bmjdrc-2016-000384
12. Devitt A, et al. J Diabetes Res Clin Metab. 2012; 1:20.
13. Bodnaruc AM, et al. Nutr Metab. 2016; 13:92
14. FDA-approved Product Label. Glucerna.; Davila LA, et al. Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1477
The first steps to managing your health after a diabetes diagnosis.
Tips on helping you manage diabetes and your emotions in the initial days through positive lifestyle changes.
Do not let meal preparation stress you out, especially when you are managing diabetes.
Glucerna® is the number 1 selling diabetes nutritional supplement in the world*. It contains 35 nutrients, slow-release carbohydrates and 4x more inositol vs previous formulation, that delivers a dual action for tight blood sugar control.
* Euromonitor International Limited; total global retail sales in 2023 for diabetic diet enhancer drinks that are not marketed as a meal replacement product. Euromonitor and Abbott calculation based in part on custom research conducted between October and November 2023 and Euromonitor Passport Consumer Health 2023 based on 2022 data.
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