Self-management is the key to good diabetes control.
• Self-management is what people with diabetes do to manage their chronic condition and the effects on their health, daily activities, social relationships and emotions.
• Self-management uses education and strategies to increase diabetes management skills and confidence. It can also refer to the organizational structure such as your Primary Care Doctor’s office educational programs for diabetes patients.
• The goal of self-management is to help people achieve good quality of life and improve those aspects of life worsened by diabetes.
Self-Management is the Use of Skills to…
• Deal with your illness (medication, physical activity, doctor visits, changing diet)
• Continue your normal daily activities (chores, employment, social life, etc.)
• Manage the changing emotions brought about by dealing with a chronic condition
(stress, uncertainty about the future, worry, anxiety, resentment, changed goals and expectations, depression, etc.)
Road to self-managing includes the follow wing steps
1. Set goals
2. Making an action plan
3. Feed back
4. Problem solving if needed
5. Making a new Action Plan
6. Acknowledge progress
Always check with your Primary Care physician or endocrinologist to see if there is a diabetes education program, a Certified Diabetes Educator or a diabetes group that can help you manage your diabetes.
