Overcoming Common Diabetes Self-Care BarriersSometimes, when you’re trying to make lifestyle changes, something may get in your way. These are calledbarriers.The important thing is to recognize what is getting in your way and think of the steps you can take to getaround these barriers. To help you solve the problem, enlist the help of your diabetes care team.“It’s a good idea to touch base with your diabetes educator, because he or she has probably workedwith people who are dealing with a similar sense of getting off track and needing to get back on track.”Some common barriers people face include lack of skills. It may be difficult to make a healthy food choice ifyou don’t know how to read the food label.Knowledge. Keeping up on changes and advances in diabetes care can help you to better manage yourdiabetes while reducing discomfort.Resources. You may be trying to lose weight but find the gym too expensive. Try adding exercise into your dayby walking in your neighborhood or at the mall.Support. It can be stressful to cope with diabetes and still run a busy household. You may need help. Reachout to family, friends or co-workers for the extra emotional support you need.“My wife’s a big support; she’ll always kind of keep an eye on me.”And life. Sometimes, life can be your biggest barrier. Something may tempt or trigger you to slide off yourhealthy path.Like a holiday party, extra work piling up on the job, or a storm on your exercise day.There’s no way you can predict everything that may block your path to success. However, now is the time tostart thinking about the ones you can predict and ways to work around them.Remember making lifestyle changes is an ongoing process. If you get off track remind yourself why you wantto make a change and get back to taking steps toward your goal as soon as you can.And when you reach your goals, reward yourself in a healthy way. You’re doing a good job.If you feel that you may need help getting past a barrier, talk with your diabetes care team to help you come upwith a plan and to continue on with your successful diabetes management.
Understand what long-term behavior goals are, and learn how choosing long-term goals one at a time, can help you make healthy changes that last a lifetime.
