When your doctor tells you that you have diabetes, you may feel shocked, scared, and sad. "What do I do now?", "What will happen to my life in the future?", "Will I have to control my diet?", etc. You may have a thousand questions in your mind. It's true that this is a big change in your life. But you don't have to face this alone. With the help of your family, their love, and understanding, you can manage this condition much better. So let's see how to talk to your loved ones about this.
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Why is it important to talk to your family about this?
Think about it this way. Diabetes is not a disease that you can just take a pill a day and live with. It is a lifestyle issue. What you eat, what you drink, how you exercise, your daily routine, everything has to change. These changes affect not only you, but also your family.
For example, when you start cutting back on sugar, oil, and flour, you'll have to make changes to the meals you cook at home. When you say you want to go for a walk every evening, you might have to use the time you could have spent helping with homework.
Simply put, this journey with diabetes is very difficult to go through alone. It is very difficult to manage it properly without the support of your family. If they don't know about this, they may unknowingly hinder your efforts.
Imagine, if a mother-in-law who doesn't know that you control your sugar level makes you a favorite dessert and insists, "Eat only this, son," how would you feel? At that time, you will feel helpless, unable to say 'no' or eat it. But if they know the nature of this disease, they will help you. They will control you by saying, "Oh, son, don't eat that, your sugar level will go up." That is the importance of educating your family.
How do you explain this simply?
When talking about this, there's no need to give a big medical lecture. Just explain the facts in simple language that they can understand.
First, let's talk about what diabetes is.
"Diabetes is a condition in which the blood sugar level (Blood Sugar or Glucose) in our body is higher than normal. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body's cells absorb the sugar from the food we eat as energy. In diabetes, either the body does not produce that hormone, or the hormone it produces does not work properly. So sugar builds up in the blood. If this is not controlled properly, over time it can damage the eyes, kidneys, heart, and nerves ."
Tell them about the changes you need to make and how you can get their help.
Be clear about the major changes you need to make in your life and how you can get your family's support to make them happen. The table below will help you with this.
| What needs to be changed | Explanation | How can you help your family? |
|---|---|---|
| Food and drink | "I have to control my eating habits now. That doesn't mean starving myself. I need to cut down on foods high in sugar, oil, and flour, and eat more vegetables, fruits, greens, and fiber-rich foods. I also need to keep my meal times regular." | You can help prepare healthy meals that everyone in the house can enjoy. You can reduce the number of times you bring or make sweet dishes. You can help prepare meals for yourself. |
| Exercise | "The doctor said to exercise at least 30 minutes a day until you sweat to control your blood sugar. Even a brisk walk is enough." | You can come and go for a walk with me. You can remind me, "Are you going for a walk today?" That's a big boost for you. |
| Taking medication | "I have to take my medicine/insulin every day on time. I can't forget this." | You can remind yourself, "Did you take your medicine?" If your medicine is about to run out, you can remind yourself. |
| Emergency situations | "Sometimes your blood sugar can get too low. That's called 'hypoglycemia.' You sweat, you shake, you feel faint, and you feel dizzy. It's dangerous." | It is very important to be aware of these symptoms. If this happens, give the person something sweet (a spoonful of sugar, a piece of toffee, glucose) as soon as possible. If they lose consciousness, they should be taken to the hospital's emergency room (ETU) as soon as possible. |
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When you talk about this, your family may also experience a range of emotions. They may be afraid and sad for you. They may ask questions like, "Is this something that runs in the family? Will it happen to us too?" Some may even blame you, saying, "This happened because you didn't eat or drink properly."
Don't get angry or hurt at times like this. Understand that these are things they say out of fear of their love for you.
- Be patient: Answer all their questions calmly. If there's something you don't know, say, "I don't know, we'll ask the doctor next time we see him."
- Include them too: If possible, bring your husband, wife, or other family member with you the next time you see the doctor. Then the doctor can ask them questions and clear their doubts.
- Ask for help clearly: Instead of saying "help me" in general, ask for help specifically, like "Can you come with me for a walk in the morning?" or "Can you bring me a sugar-free cookie when I go to the store?" That way, it's easier to help them.
Don't make diabetes just your problem. Make your family understand that it's 'our' problem, a challenge that 'we' face together. Then this journey will be much easier for you.
💡 Take-Home Message
- After being diagnosed with diabetes, it is very important to talk openly about it with your family. Their support can be a great source of strength for you.
- Simply explain the condition, treatment methods (diet, exercise, medication), and lifestyle changes that need to be made.
- Educating family members about the symptoms and what to do in a hypoglycemic emergency can be life-saving.
- Ask them specifically what help you need. Make them a part of your health journey.
- If possible, bring a family member with you to see the doctor. This will allow them to receive proper medical advice as well.
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