Nothing inspires people from all walks of life to embark on a healthier lifestyle and new goals quite like the new year. When you have diabetes, new year’s resolutions and goals are about more than looking and feeling your best — they’re an opportunity to take control of your health and come up with a plan to manage your diabetes symptoms.
At Midwest Regional Health Services, our team of primary care doctors and specialists offers diabetes management and a range of family medicine services at our office in Omaha, Nebraska.
Your diabetes and health journey are unique to you, and what works perfectly for someone else may not work for you at all, or even do more harm than good. When it comes to setting new year’s goals, one thing has always been clear: the key to success is to skip the fads and shortcuts and focus on realistic, achievable steps that you’ll enjoy and be able to sustain well beyond the end of the holiday season.
Here are five tips to help you prioritize your health and manage your diabetes in the new year:
Does your diet and nutrition need some improvement? Has the doctor recommended that you lose a few extra pounds to get within a healthy weight range? Are you getting enough exercise and keeping your stress under control? Are you having enough fun?
If your new year’s goals feel like another list of chores to force on yourself, your chances of sticking to them will be slim. Start by making a list that really makes sense for your health needs and interests.
For example, if you want to focus on your fitness and get more exercise, try to find a new activity or sport instead of purchasing a gym membership if you really hate going to the gym. Take some advice from Marie Kondo and make a list of goals that bring you joy as well as health.
The start of a new year is a great time to take stock of your health with a checkup and any medical tests you may need, especially if you have diabetes. If you want to start a new diet or exercise plan, it’s especially important to consult with a doctor to ensure you’re going about it safely.
A healthy, balanced lifestyle is about more than just exercising and eating healthy food. Spending quality time with friends and family, making new friends, learning new things, and having new experiences are all vital to your health. Have you always wanted to learn how to paint or play the piano? Or maybe you’d like to learn how to tango for that dream trip to Argentina?
Stress management is also an important component of managing your diabetes, and doing something you feel passionate about can work wonders for your mood and stress levels.
Getting adequate rest is essential for mental health and physical well-being. But planning to rest can also help you keep your new year’s goals moving as well as lower the risk of burnout and exhaustion. Planned breaks also keep you from overdoing it and eliminate guilt and the urge to give up when you really just need a day off. Scheduling breaks allows you to take the rest you need without losing momentum.
Share your goals with your support system, and ask for help when you need it. Our team is here to help answer your questions and concerns, and to devise a diabetes management plan that works best for you.
For more information about how to successfully manage and monitor your diabetes, contact Midwest Regional Health Services today to learn more and to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.
