16 | Living with Diabetes
HELPING
SOMEONE
WHO HAS
DIABETES
Why does a How can I help How can I help
person who has my relative who my relative make
diabetes need help? has diabetes? healthy changes? What else can I do? How can I be patient?
It isn’t easy for people First, learn all you If you eat meals Learn how to Learning how to live
to learn that they have can about diabetes. together, eat the recognize signs of with diabetes takes
diabetes. Diabetes The more you know, same foods your problems. Learn the time. Your relative
is a problem that the more you can relative eats. Avoid symptoms of a high will have good days
doesn’t go away. It help. Second, be buying foods he or blood sugar level and bad days. Times
has to be taken care sympathetic. It can she isn’t supposed (called hyperglycemia) of stress may be
of every day. People be scary at fi rst for to eat. People who and a low blood the hardest. When
who have diabetes someone to fi nd have diabetes should sugar level (called people who have
must make some out he or she has generally follow the hypoglycemia). See diabetes are under
important changes diabetes. Your relative same advice for p.27 for advice on stress, they often
in their lives. To may be frustrated healthy eating that this. Understand that have more trouble
stay healthy, they with the changes he everyone else should when your relative is controlling their blood
have to learn how to or she has to make. follow: eat less fat and very cranky or has a sugar levels. If this
monitor and control Tell your relative that fewer sugary foods. bad temper, his or her happens, try to help
their blood sugar you understand, Instead, choose a blood sugar level may the person regain
levels. People who but don’t let these variety of fresh fruits, be too high or too low. some balance and
don’t control their feelings become an vegetables, whole Rather than arguing, get back on track.
blood sugar levels excuse for the person grains, lean meats encourage your Provide reminders
can develop serious to not take care of his and fi sh. Encourage relative to check the to eat a healthy diet
health problems, or her diabetes. exercise. You might blood sugar level and and exercise. If the
such as blindness, even want to exercise take steps to correct person is feeling
nerve damage and together. Walking, the problem. frustrated and angry,
kidney failure. jogging, bicycling, encourage him or her
swimming and dancing to focus on solving
are all good activities problems.
that will help both
of you get enough
exercise. Your relative
should talk to his or her
doctor to fi nd out what
kind of exercise to try.
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