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There’s a feeling of shock, a numbness that creeps in and takes
over immediately after receiving bad news. Sitting in the doctor’s
office, you need to just sit a moment and catch your breath, willing
yourself to wake up, knowing you are not asleep. “Diabetes. I’ve got
diabetes.” You gather up all of the pamphlets you’ve been given, the
referral to the
dietician and you leave the office, still numb. Now is the time for
you to reach out and find at least one diabetes support group to
lean on.
But how? You have your diagnosis and you know that diabetes is
serious, not something to take lightly. The list of questions seems
endless: “No more sugar? Will I have to do a finger stick every day?
Insulin? What is diabetes exactly and how did I get it?” Here are a
few things to do to get you moving in the right direction.
First, start your research. Knowledge and information are your best
defense against this disease. Go to diabetes.com and diabetes.org
and find out all you can about diet, exercise and how you can manage
your diabetes. For some diabetics, a
change in eating habits and exercise is enough and they don’t need
to start oral medications or insulin injections.
Some of the most important information on these and the other
diabetes websites is where to find help: diabetes support groups.
There are online bulletin boards, chatrooms, and other groups that
are specific to newly diagnosed patients, Type 2 patients, parents,
spouses and where to find local diabetes support.
In addition to these online groups, you can find local support.
Community centers, health care facilities and some churches offer
weekly or monthly meetings for diabetics. These groups are usually
led by someone from the healthcare community in your area and offer
local support.
Although diabetes is a disease that can be self-managed, it is still
a serious disease and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Dealing with
diabetes isn’t something you have to do on your own, build your own
diabetes support group from all of the options you have open to you.
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