Diabetes & Wellbeing

Dr Jedha, Host

Good day there, welcome to immediately’s episode, the place we’re specializing in an extremely vital theme for World Diabetes Day 2024: Diabetes and Nicely-Being.

01:14

Earlier than we dive into that I need to encourage you to share final week’s episode with your loved ones members, associates and colleagues. Final week, episode 50, we lined the danger elements and signs of prediabetes and sort 2 diabetes. Being the signs are imprecise, they’ll simply go unnoticed, so we need to be certain that our family members, associates and colleagues perceive what these dangers and signs are to allow them to determine something early and be proactive towards their well being. So once more, please share episode 50 to assist us unfold the information and the diabetes consciousness.

Now again to immediately’s agenda…

02:00

World Diabetes Day, it comes round yearly on 14th November, bringing world consideration to the challenges and developments in diabetes care, and this yr’s theme focuses on diabetes and well-being, an important but typically neglected facet of diabetes administration.

You’ll typically see loads about blood sugar and the methods to affect that with food plan, train, and drugs, if vital. However managing diabetes isn’t just about blood sugar ranges or drugs. With all of the issues that it’s important to take into consideration, it’s comprehensible that it impacts emotional and psychological well being as nicely, and that’s one thing we are able to’t overlook. The truth is, in keeping with World Diabetes Day information, 36% of individuals residing with diabetes expertise diabetes misery, 63% dwell with the fixed worry of growing diabetes-related issues, and 28% discover it onerous to remain optimistic about their situation. So let’s simply say that you’re not alone in experiencing varied difficulties and challenges.

Whereas I’ll contact briefly on the potential emotional and psychological burdens, I need to primarily concentrate on sharing methods and insights on the way you may prioritize your well-being, so you possibly can take into consideration how one can take small steps every day to prioritize your individual well-being. 

Though I think about well-being extremely vital, I’m typically unsure about sharing these sorts of matters, as a result of let’s face it, well-being is a type of phrase or idea that may appear a bit imprecise, summary or woowoo. In actuality nonetheless, well-being is a multifaceted idea that encompasses varied dimensions of our lives and may replicate the general high quality of our life and our expertise of it. 

04:02

The principle dimensions of well-being are:

1. Bodily Nicely-Being: This entails the flexibility to take care of bodily well being by correct diet, train, sleep, and different health-boosting habits. 
2. Emotional Nicely-Being: Emotional well-being refers back to the skill to deal with stress, adapt to vary, and handle feelings in a wholesome means. 
3. Social Nicely-Being: This dimension entails optimistic relationships with others, social connectedness, and assist networks. 
4. Psychological Nicely-Being: Refers to cognitive functioning, a way of goal, and mental engagement. 
5. Financial and Environmental Nicely-Being: Refers to monetary stability and residing in a secure, supportive atmosphere. 

General, for any particular person, well-being is basically about making an attempt to realize stability throughout these dimensions, contributing to an general sense of life satisfaction, happiness, and goal​. However once we take into consideration these dimensions, it isn’t all the time straightforward to search out or hold that stability, proper? Each day stressors and life’s unpredictability can tip the dimensions, making it tougher to take care of concord between these important features of life. That’s why prioritizing well-being is a key half to residing not simply longer however fuller lives. The one key factor we are able to do is, every day, even when we are able to simply take into consideration making time for ourselves not directly, our skill to prioritize our well-being grows and will get simpler day by day. 

Coming again to these information stats supplied for World Diabetes Day, with regards to diabetes we’re speaking about elements corresponding to misery, worry, and mindset which have a major influence in your well-being. 

06:06

Diabetes misery is a time period utilized in skilled follow and in analysis to discuss with multi-faceted issues that may have an effect on an individual residing with diabetes. It’s totally different from melancholy or normal emotional well-being, because it’s anchored within the day-to-day expertise of residing with diabetes. A big a part of the misery develops from the truth that there are persistent calls for, and nicely, that may be demanding. In line with analysis, females are at increased threat of misery, being extra not too long ago recognized can result in increased ranges of misery, and lack of assist is an enormous one too. 

It is smart {that a} new analysis results in misery because it typically comes as a shock to many individuals. And there are such a lot of questions that come up out of that. Again in episode 46 we lined the place to start out for those who’re newly recognized and subsequent week we’ve obtained a Q&A that may assist cowl among the most important issues that come up for folks as nicely. The opposite factor that contributes to folks’s degree of misery really comes from healthcare professionals – poor communication in consultations and inattention from physicians. Individuals are often supplied with little to no communication to assist them perceive their diabetes. In case you’ve listened to the podcast for some time, you’ve heard me share folks’s experiences of going to the medical doctors workplace, receiving a analysis and given no assist or sources, or worse, being advised their analysis will make them drugs, extra drugs and ultimately loss of life. If that’s not distressing to anybody, they will need to have superpowers. In case you are newly recognized please take heed to episode 46 and 52. Having that understanding and assist of understanding what to do is an enormous one and these episodes will aid you really feel significantly better about issues. 

08:08

There’s additionally the shaming and stigma that always occurs – well being professionals passing judgment or criticism not directly, one thing we lined in episode 40. And plenty of well being professionals try to make use of the specter of impending issues, or the necessity to use insulin, as a way to try to inspire self-care. That doesn’t work. It solely will increase worry because it doesn’t present folks with data, expertise or confidence about what to do to know what the issues are, how they develop or the right way to mitigate that threat. In line with analysis, worries about future issues is among the most typical issues folks expertise, 63% of individuals the truth is, that’s huge. In case you are experiencing worry round growing issues, one optimistic step you possibly can take is to take heed to episode 30 to know how issues develop within the first place. As soon as you understand that, you possibly can take motion steps from there, as there’s a lot you are able to do to mitigate threat of issues. And when you perceive you could be proactive and scale back threat, this additionally helps to alleviate any worry you’ll have, as residing in worry isn’t a useful emotion, whereas being empowered and positively proactive is. So once more, that’s episode 30 the place we talked about what causes issues. Getting your blood sugar and A1c inside a wholesome vary and retaining them there’s a actually vital objective right here.

As for lack of assist resulting in misery, that may be frequent, so I’m glad that you simply’re right here listening to this episode and this podcast, as that gives you with one degree of high quality assist. A means you possibly can develop data about your well being, construct expertise and confidence and that’s all very empowering to feeling optimistic about issues. 

It’s unlucky that even when folks obtain data to handle their diabetes, for instance, food plan and diet data, they obtain inaccurate data that doesn’t assist them get outcomes. It may be very disheartening once you assume you’re doing all the suitable issues however actually, the belongings you’re doing aren’t getting outcomes and also you get your A1c and assume, why is that this not coming down? So it’s not unusual for individuals who be a part of us as a member at DMP, to have been residing with diabetes for 10 or 20 years and nonetheless struggling to get their ranges beneath management. Take Dean for instance, who shared his story in episode 31. He lived with diabetes for over 20 years and was struggling to get A1c again to regular and he didn’t need to go on extra meds. Nicely, Dean is now sustaining regular A1c and is off all remedy. The factor is, irrespective of the place you might be proper now, there may be all the time a means to enhance your outcomes. However having the ability to take focused motion that truly achieves a outcome, that’s motivating and optimistic. And that’s what this podcast and our membership applications are all about. Use instruments that may present confirmed assist that truly does aid you get outcomes, that’s empowering because it improves your well being and well-being.

11:32

I additionally need to notice that Dr Doug J Moore was a visitor on episode 5 and he shared some actually insightful recommendations on the right way to change your mindset to not simply survive, however thrive with diabetes, so I’d advocate you take heed to that episode. And it’s fascinating as a result of loads of issues come again to our mindset. And as Dr Moore mentioned: It’s by repetition and the optimistic emotion that then we are able to assume otherwise and really feel otherwise. After we take a acutely aware step to begin to assume otherwise, the neural pathways in our mind do really change. It is a scientifically incontrovertible fact, an idea is called neuroplasticity, recognizing the mind’s skill to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections all through life as we study new expertise, type new habits, or change our thought patterns. 

13:07

After we get an opportunity and periodically, it’s vital to take time for reflection. Take a chance to pause, assess the place we’re, and envision the particular person we need to grow to be sooner or later and the way we might improve our well-being throughout the totally different dimensions. As we’ve been chatting about immediately, whereas our actions are vital, our mindset lays the muse for a way we strategy these steps towards our targets and aspirations. 

Generally, quite than engaged on the actions, taking a step again to contemplate our mindset and utilizing mindset methods to strengthen our determination making and motivation is absolutely vital. And, there simply so occurs to be a technique known as future pacing that we are able to use to mission ourselves ahead and create a brand new model of ourselves, or work towards an excellent higher model of our present self. 

Future pacing is an idea rooted within the thought of mentally projecting your self into the longer term to expertise the outcomes of the adjustments you’re aiming to make. It’s a strong visualization instrument typically utilized in psychology and training that may assist us create a vivid image of our desired future, making our targets really feel extra actual and attainable. By clearly visualizing the place we need to be, we are able to higher align our current actions with that future consequence, growing our motivation, guiding our decision-making and enhancing our dedication to well-being.

When you could also be experiencing every day challenges, the follow of future pacing is about seeing past these challenges and imagining a life the place your well being is now not a continuing fear, however a basis of power and vitality. It might sound lofty I do know, however these mindset practices are rooted in psychological science. Now, I’m not an athlete however I like athletes in so some ways. And athletes often use future pacing and visualization to enhance their competitors efficiency and to optimize the outcomes of their every day coaching and habits. 

Science exhibits us that once we interact in future pacing it helps activate the identical neural pathways as once we carry out the motion or exercise itself. Sure, there’s that scientifically confirmed neuroplasticity once more that exhibits our mind adjustments with mindset methods corresponding to future pacing. We will use future pacing to reinforce our psychological, emotional and bodily self, to enhance the standard of our actions and optimize our outcomes and every day habits. And we are able to additionally use future pacing to visualise potential challenges and the way we’ll overcome them.

So what is that this future pacing precisely? Nicely, future pacing means to vividly think about your self sooner or later, say, six months or a yr from now. You think about your self having constantly taken small steps towards higher well being, for instance. Imagining what that appears like, what your day seems like, the best way you’re participating in actions and the best way you’re pondering and feeling about life. Contemplate all these dimensions in your imagery, not simply the bodily, however emotional, psychological and environmental well-being as nicely. In line with science, once we vividly think about a optimistic future, the place we’re taking optimistic actions and having a optimistic consequence, it does really assist produce a unique consequence. Identical to the athletes use it to optimize their competitors outcomes and the every day coaching and habits they interact in, we are able to use this technique in our on a regular basis lives. It reinforces what we would like and does change our mindset. 

One other means we are able to use future pacing is to future-pace ourselves by challenges. It’s vital to acknowledge that going through obstacles is a pure a part of any course of, and the way we reply to challenges could make all of the distinction in our long-term success. By getting ready for obstacles prematurely, we are able to reinforce our skill to remain resilient and dedicated to our targets, it doesn’t matter what the journey of life throws at us. Once more, athletes use this to play it ahead and visualize how they may overcome the challenges they face in competitors or of their every day routines. 

As you progress ahead, there might be ups and downs, successes and setbacks. Nevertheless, every day brings new alternatives to study, develop, and make decisions that assist your well being, your happiness and your well-being. 

18:29

In brief, residing with diabetes is extra than simply specializing in blood sugar—it’s about taking good care of your general well-being. Meaning taking time for your self to replicate on methods you possibly can strengthen, not solely your bodily well-being but in addition your emotional, social, psychological and environmental well-being. It’s vital to know as a lot as you possibly can about your well being situation, and much more vital to search out correct and trusted data so you understand the proactive steps you select to take can have a optimistic influence. It’s vital to have assist, everytime you really feel snug to hunt that. In case you’re discovering that facet tough, go to our web site and think about becoming a member of us as a member. It’s vital to shift your mindset and concentrate on prioritizing you, even when which means taking teeny tiny steps, every little thing counts and actually will assist rewire your mind to positivity. Take heed to these sources I shared immediately, episodes 46 and 52 for those who’re newly recognized, episode 30 about how issues develop and episode 5 on mindset. And naturally, utilizing mindset methods corresponding to future pacing, is a strong method to mission ourselves into the longer term and envision the outcomes of the small, incremental adjustments we’re making immediately and rehearsing how we’ll overcome obstacles as nicely. 

In case you’re already one in every of our members, you’ll know that the sources we share every week present ongoing assist, to encourage, to empower you with expertise and data and that can assist you keep in a optimistic mindset. In case you go to the Members Library you’ll find extra sources alongside every podcast. There was an amazing workbook we shared alongside episode 5 known as Thriving with Diabetes Mindset Issues – plenty of nice stuff in that. Having the ability to verify in personally every month for suggestions or simply to share your challenges is one other wonderful degree of assist we offer, and offers you a way of neighborhood, studying what others are going by and the challenges they face. In case you haven’t been utilizing the month-to-month verify ins, I encourage you to take action, because it actually is effective assist. Some members simply verify in briefly saying hello, some members share their progress or outcomes and a few members troubleshoot points or challenges and get particular suggestions on issues after which they go away and put them into place to get higher outcomes or overcome these obstacles. I simply need to be sure that in case you are one in every of our members listening to this, that you’re taking full benefit of all of the assist your membership offers. 

To conclude this episode for World Diabetes Day 2024, be sure you prioritize your well-being. Keep in mind although, it’s not about perfection—it’s about progress and being sort to your self alongside the best way. Each small step you’re taking is a victory, and it’s these constant efforts that result in long-lasting optimistic adjustments.

You’ll want to share episodes 50 and 51 to assist us unfold this worthwhile data and diabetes consciousness.

Thanks a lot for listening immediately. Till subsequent time.

Dr Jedha, over and out.