Partners in Care
Who is my "partner in care"?
When you have diabetes, it is common to feel alone or different. Many
people with diabetes are able to follow their treatment plan more faithfully
with the help of family and friends. It can be easier to take the time to
care for yourself if people important to you support your effort. Many
people will ask someone close to them to be their "partner in diabetes care."
A partner is someone who will agree to work with you toward the same goals.
It is someone you can rely on to help and understand when things are hard.
This does not mean they will take care of you, but they will support you.
They will try to give positive help and not nag, but they will also help hold
you accountable.
How can I get the support I need?
To be a partner, your friend or family member needs to know diabetes too.
One way for them to learn is to go to diabetes class with you. Another way
is for you to teach them as you learn. They can also go to support groups
with you.
Another way to get your partner involved is to ask them to help make plans to
change your health habits. During the planning talks they can see ways to
support you. For example they may decide to exercise with you.
When you have a illness like diabetes, people will try to tell you what to do
based on what they heard on some TV infomercial, or saw on a internet ad, or
what helped their friend. Even if they are trying to help, they may have
out-of-date information about diabetes.