You need to take a break from the demands of diabetes


Not only can you take a break, it's highly recommended. Dr. William Polonsky, founder of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute, says not only can you take a break from diabetes, you must. While attending a diabetes conference, Polonsky told me, diabetes educators were adding up all the tasks involved in managing diabetes, and they stopped counting when they reached 150! "Periodic mini-vacations from the demands of diabetes," says Polonsky, "are required. They keep you mentally healthy and keep you going."

A survey Polonsky designed and conducts regularly with patients, called the Diabetes Distress Scale survey, reveals that patients' greatest frustration with diabetes is the enormity of it all. How do I stay on this diet? I have no time for regular exercise! I'm sixty-six and now I've got to go to the gym? How am I going to test my blood sugar so many times? Do I really have to take so many pills? You want me to take shots every day?! When do I get a break?

In fact, Polonsky was shocked when he learned patients actually welcomed a week's stay at the Joslin Diabetes Clinic. "It was a huge relief to people to spend a week where they didn't have to take responsibility for, or be in charge of, their diabetes. The dirty little secret," says Polonsky, "is everybody takes vacations from diabetes because no one can do diabetes perfectly all the time." What's important is taking a "safe" vacation and making sure you come back from your vacation.

Taking breaks from your diabetes management helps you restore your energy and let go of stress, and it helps everyone around you; they benefit from your being less stressed. Parents of children with diabetes may think they can't ever take a break, but diabetes educator Betty Brackenridge says it's vital. One is to develop a support circle of extended family members and good friends who can pitch in by teaching them about diabetes and how to do blood sugar checks.

This not only lets you take a break but also keeps grandmas and grandpas close. A pediatric endocrinologist instructs his young patients and their parents to take two days off a month from testing blood sugars, provided it isn't two days in a row and an adult is present.

Create a plan with your health care team so that your diabetes control isn't compromised. For instance, learn ahead of time how to adjust your medications for any circumstance that may arise.

Understand that you're not quitting your diabetes care altogether, just taking a very brief break. For example, you might take one night off a week from your diabetes-friendly meal plan.

Skip a noncritical blood glucose check once or twice a week. Check your blood sugar less often one day a week when you tend to eat and exercise the way you usually do and so have confidence that you can safely guesstimate how you're doing.

Paul, a successful businessman, takes a diabetes holiday every Friday night. "My wife and I have family over and we put out cheeses, pepperoni, and antipasto, and I eat and drink whatever I want and cover it with my insulin. For four hours I'm no longer ‘diabetic' in my mind; I'm just a regular guy. I think it's better to maintain good control six days a week and live a little one night a week for a few hours than to have poor control much of the time."

Larry, who's seventy-six and has had type 2 diabetes for thirty-five years, "goes crazy" with food on infrequent occasions. "The brilliant endocrinologist that I see," Larry told me, "agreed to this approach years ago."

Lara, who's had type 1 diabetes for thirty-three years, says, "I skip a meal if I'm not hungry. I check my blood sugar to make sure I'm OK and then just go on about my business." It sounds silly that this is a vacation for Lara, but for more than two decades she had to eat to prevent lows.

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This article was sent to us by: Agatha Brice at 02162011

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