Living With A Diabetic Spouse

Living with a loved one who has been diagnosed with diabetes doesnt mean your lives have to change dramatically. But it does mean that you need to be knowledgeable about the disease, help your mate manage their condition, and know what to do in case of an emergency.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), more than ten million American seniors have the disease; thats 26.9 percent of people sixty-five years or older. The ADA also estimates that several dozen million more seniors are "pre-diabetic."

If your spouse is diagnosed with diabetes the biggest challenge may be helping to change long-established eating and exercise habits, as well as developing the ability to test for and manage blood sugar levels. These procedures will affect your mates daily life, and your support as well as those of friends, is significant in making changes successful for the long term.

But its important to understand that managing diabetes as an adult is more complicated than simply eating less sugar and exercising more; adults have ingrained preferences and habits that over the years have become closely tied to their self-image and their social network.

For example, family celebrations almost always include traditional meals and snacks. Facing those events without enjoying the same foods can cause not only frustration but depression. It helps to be sure to include a wide variety of food choices. Its also a good idea to add new traditions to family gatherings that dont involve food like board games, or going for a walk together. Just as important, try not to nag or focus on what your spouse should no longer eat or eat much less of. Instead, keep a positive attitude. Optimism is contagious.