Source: GMN Health
While I’ve done it thousands of times, it never gets easier for me to tell a patient he or she has diabetes. For some, it comes as a complete shock; for others, the news confirms what the patient already suspected. Regardless of the response, living with diabetes is life-changing and it doesn’t just affect the patient — it also changes the relationship dynamic with family and friends. And more and more New Jerseyans are being diagnosed; over the past 20 years, the estimated rate of new adult diabetes cases has more than doubled in New Jersey.
Patients newly diagnosed with diabetes often veer in two directions — they are in denial or they become fixated with disease management. My younger patients sometimes ignore the diagnosis initially because (early on) they don’t have any outward symptoms. Others become fixated with checking their blood sugar every few hours or are so cautious about what they eat they become nutrition-deprived.
Susan was diagnosed at 30 years old but felt she could self-mange the disease through weight loss. But her health deteriorated over the years and she came to see me with diabetes-related complications in her eyes that, if not controlled, can lead to blindness. Without medication and self-care, I explained that her kidneys could also fail and she’d be facing life-long dialysis.
No longer in denial and now a mother, Susan realized she could still be in control of her disease — but supported by medication, dietary changes and partnering with an endocrinologist. By taking that responsibility and diabetes medications, Susan managed to lose 75 pounds by adopting a healthier lifestyle. She does not require multiple diabetes medications anymore and has never felt better emotionally and physically.
Family members are justifiably frightened when a loved one has diabetes. But this worry and fear can grow into a need to “police” the patient and “turn him in” for any deviation from the treatment protocol. “My husband ate a brownie last week so I haven’t spoken to him since,” one angry wife told me during an office visit.“He just doesn’t care that he’s so overweight.” While well intended, this kind of negative reinforcement doesn’t work. Instead of attacking the loved one, focus on the positive:
• Adopt a diabetes-friendly lifestyle for the whole family that focuses on eating well, exercising and quality sleep.
• During doctor visits, focus on what the patient is doing right rather that itemizing every infraction
• Empower the patient to believe he or she is the boss — not the disease.
• Don’t make the loved one feel isolated or like a failure.
Finally, if you or a loved one has been recently diagnosed, I recommend the book “When Diabetes Hits Home
By Dr. Saima Farghani, a board-certified endocrinologist on staff at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold. She can be reached at MidAtlantic Diabetes & Endocrinology Associates by calling 732-409-6233.