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How do you tell your family you have diabetes?
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<blockquote data-quote="pavlosn" data-source="post: 821034" data-attributes="member: 22572"><p>Dear Alicia </p><p></p><p>Your friend is clearly struggling to come to terms with her diagnosis, which is neither surprising nor remarkable but a pretty typical response when one is first told that one suffers from a lifelong condition such as diabetes.</p><p></p><p>One is suddenly forced to reassess their own self image of infallibility or even invincibility and accept limitations that one's own body demands.</p><p></p><p>Faced with demons both real and imaginary, fear and denial are the most common responses.</p><p></p><p>In order to overcome these demons your friend will need time to adjust and information so that she may sort through what is real and what is not and support from those close to her and those that have experience of living with this disease.</p><p></p><p>Her husband certainly has a big role to play in this but it is possible that he is also going through a similar coping period. As a friend with the same (or similar, if as I suspect your friend is t2) condition, no doubt you will be a great source of comfort to her. Forums such as this one could also provide her with invaluable information and support as well as examples of people living and living well with diabetes.</p><p></p><p>As I said, some of the demons your friend is facing are almost certainly imaginary. It is hard for me to see how diabetes can suddenly turn her from a strong independent person to someone who is a burden.</p><p></p><p>Diabetes does not change who we are.</p><p></p><p>Even if she does need more support from her husband, emotionally rather than anything else I suspect, is this not what a marriage should be all about? Two people being there for each other and supporting each other through adversity, making for a unit that is stronger than the constituent parts. If the husband is any husband worth his salt, I am sure he did not sign up for the good times only.</p><p></p><p>No one knows how the future will turn out and diabetes is not a death sentence. It is a serious condition but it is a condition that, if one acknowledges and respects its rules, allows for a full and very fulfilling life; the list of diabetics who have excelled in their chosen fields, including top Olympic gold medal winning athletes, is long and illustrious.</p><p></p><p>Your friend needs time to find out what this disease is and is not, process her fear and anxiety and move on from her current denial through the other stages of grief (anger and bargaining) to eventual acceptance and getting on with her life.</p><p></p><p>Many have found that diabetes has actually made them stronger and more proactive in making changes that have proved beneficial to their own lives.</p><p></p><p>Please encourage your friend to visit this site, she does not have to join or contribute, she can just read through staff as a visitor. I am sure, she will find plenty here to help her through. </p><p></p><p>If nothing else, she will see that she is not alone.</p><p></p><p>All the best to you and your friend.</p><p></p><p>Pavlos</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pavlosn, post: 821034, member: 22572"] Dear Alicia Your friend is clearly struggling to come to terms with her diagnosis, which is neither surprising nor remarkable but a pretty typical response when one is first told that one suffers from a lifelong condition such as diabetes. One is suddenly forced to reassess their own self image of infallibility or even invincibility and accept limitations that one's own body demands. Faced with demons both real and imaginary, fear and denial are the most common responses. In order to overcome these demons your friend will need time to adjust and information so that she may sort through what is real and what is not and support from those close to her and those that have experience of living with this disease. Her husband certainly has a big role to play in this but it is possible that he is also going through a similar coping period. As a friend with the same (or similar, if as I suspect your friend is t2) condition, no doubt you will be a great source of comfort to her. Forums such as this one could also provide her with invaluable information and support as well as examples of people living and living well with diabetes. As I said, some of the demons your friend is facing are almost certainly imaginary. It is hard for me to see how diabetes can suddenly turn her from a strong independent person to someone who is a burden. Diabetes does not change who we are. Even if she does need more support from her husband, emotionally rather than anything else I suspect, is this not what a marriage should be all about? Two people being there for each other and supporting each other through adversity, making for a unit that is stronger than the constituent parts. If the husband is any husband worth his salt, I am sure he did not sign up for the good times only. No one knows how the future will turn out and diabetes is not a death sentence. It is a serious condition but it is a condition that, if one acknowledges and respects its rules, allows for a full and very fulfilling life; the list of diabetics who have excelled in their chosen fields, including top Olympic gold medal winning athletes, is long and illustrious. Your friend needs time to find out what this disease is and is not, process her fear and anxiety and move on from her current denial through the other stages of grief (anger and bargaining) to eventual acceptance and getting on with her life. Many have found that diabetes has actually made them stronger and more proactive in making changes that have proved beneficial to their own lives. Please encourage your friend to visit this site, she does not have to join or contribute, she can just read through staff as a visitor. I am sure, she will find plenty here to help her through. If nothing else, she will see that she is not alone. All the best to you and your friend. Pavlos [/QUOTE]
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