Sweet life/a new year
13 September JDRF Walk to Cure
How can ‘journaling’ help?
Diabetes in Bristol. What a super day out.
Everyone was so cheerful and friendly. John
Eve Menezes Cunningham is a confidence This will help motivate you to make
did the walk and I did the rounds earlier in the
coach (www.applecoaching.com) who changes to your lifestyle which are easier
week: we raised £140.
uses journaling with her clients. But how to maintain than if you were simply
can it help people with diabetes? following someone else’s instructions.’
Professional advice
Bernadette Hall, team leader for the Diabetes
●
Managing your condition ● Coping with emotions
Service at Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, was
‘You know yourself best, but journaling ‘Letting all the feelings you’re
part of Geraldine’s support network during
can help you get to know yourself even experiencing out in a safe place can help
her fi rst months after diagnosis. She thinks
better. By making a note of the things get your head around everything, and
that keeping a journal of the ups and downs
you’re eating, amount of sleep you’re you’ll have fewer unresolved feelings.
helped Geraldine cope, and enabled healthcare
getting, exercise, mood and other Don’t censor yourself: rant and rave in
professionals to support her better.
variables, you can gain insight into your your journal about what feels unfair. Also
‘Writing things down helps patients identify
condition that can help you manage think about the things you have to be
what’s occurred between consultations,’ she
more successfully. You’ll feel more grateful for, or lessons you’ve learned
explains. ‘It enables them to work out why
confident when talking to your medical and habits you’ve been able to break,
things might have happened and to recall diet,
team and you’ll start noticing patterns. from having to deal with diabetes.’
exercise and any missed meals. A diary is also
a great tool during consultations, as it can
but it worked out okay. Nowhere near as big a she suggested taking half my dose at lunch prompt questions. You don’t need to record
problem as I’d anticipated. time and trying something plain like toast. I’m much. Even if you put “gardening”, and then
defi nitely not taking any more metformin. your blood glucose levels, it will help you see
28 May Bernadette suggests I try taking whether gardening is a viable level of activity
metformin tablets to help with my weight: 26 June Back to the optician: eyes are near on that dose of insulin. Ultimately, keeping
she’ll contact my GP. my old sight levels again. New specs, here we your own notes encourages understanding
Pre-breakfast: 20 units come. First ‘sharps box’ collection: at least it’s and greater knowledge.’
Pre-dinner: 16 units a discreet white van. Bernadette encourages her patients to
record what they were doing at the time,
1 June The Retinal Screening Unit visits my 1 July Still having digestion problems. Had should any type of low or high occur.
GP’s surgery, so at least it’s nice and local. tickets for the Bristol Hippodrome but felt Coping with diabetes can be diffi cult for
too ill to go. First time diabetes has really those who don’t keep records, she says. ‘Not
3 June Appointment with podiatrist at interfered with normal life. keeping notes makes managing the treatment
Melksham Hospital. more diffi cult than it needs to be. If patients
15 July Appointment with Dr Higgs in don’t have results and information to hand, it’s
4 June Appointment with dietitian at Bath. She’s very pleased with the control diffi cult to take it forward. Interestingly, the
Chippenham Hospital. I’ve been keeping a food of my diabetes and will see me again in six people who are prepared are usually the ones
diary and it seems I’m not doing too badly. I’m months. During evening tai chi class, another managing their diabetes best, and the ones
advised to count carbs over a day. Calories I’ve student (who works as a nurse counsellor for who are at peace with the diagnosis. Keeping
done before, but carbs? Let’s give it a try! alcoholics) suggested I try aloe vera juice for my a journal helps you feel better and helps you
gastric discomfort. I’m willing to try anything! maintain that quality of life.’ ■
17 June CT scan as requested by Dr Higgs.
The results will go to her to discuss during my 20 July My stomach problems have settled
WORDS: NICOLA JOYCE
next appointment in July. Start metformin down and I feel much better again.
after my evening meal.
10 August Bernadette is satisfi ed that
Sweet
giveaway
21 June Low reading before bed. Had a I’m coping well and managing my diabetes
If you want to keep track of your health
snack. Terrible indigestion all night. satisfactorily. I will now be transferred to my
and medication, Desang (www.desang.
GP’s clinic, although she has reassured me
net) has simple and stylish pocket
22 June Very low reading before evening that she’s always at the end of the phone if I
diaries that are perfect for the job. We
meal: metformin is defi nitely reducing my want to talk.
have 10 of the diaries to give away, to
blood glucose levels. Severe vomiting all Pre-breakfast: 8 units
get you started. To win one, simply send
through the night. Oh dear!
your details to Diary Giveaway, Sweet
15 August A week’s holiday on the Isle of
Magazine, PO Box 6337, Bournemouth
23 June Feel terrible. And what do I do Man. No problems with meals or travelling.
BH1 9EH, by 11 February.
about my insulin? Rang Bernadette for advice: Life feels almost normal!
Sweet Magazine 85
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