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Physical activity & wellbeing
⏱ 10 minutes read
Discover how exercise and emotional well-being can support your diabetes management.
Find your people
- Family, friends and colleagues – Though it can be difficult to tell others you have diabetes, it can help for certain people to know. These might include family, friends and work colleagues. Family can support you, especially as you will need to make changes to what you eat. Telling your partner will help them understand how you feel. How much you disclose to work colleagues may depend on your relationship with them, but it is a good idea for someone at your workplace to know so that they can support you if necessary.1,2,3,4
- Support groups – Finding people who share similar challenges to you provides another important space to share personal experiences and feelings. It can be great for exchanging information about treatments, coping strategies and ideas about what might help. In a way, support groups can bridge the gap between the help provided by medical professionals and by family and friends. A doctor may not provide adequate emotional support, and family and friends may not fully understand the impact of a disease or treatment. Support groups come in all shapes and sizes, from online gatherings to face-to-face meetings. They can be led by a variety of professionals such as nurses and psychologists or by people with diabetes. They could incorporate educational opportunities, including guest talks covering topics related to the group's needs. Peer support programmes can be a great place to learn about living with diabetes from people who understand how to manage it day-to-day. While the Internet can provide endless access to health information, finding reliable and relevant sources can be difficult without guidance and support. Peer support groups can offer real, practical advice the medical system is unlikely to raise.2,5
- Forums – Online forums provide a space to share common experiences or to chat about things other than your condition. It is like having a comfort blanket of people you can turn to (typically at any time of night and day) when you need answers to burning questions, a shoulder to cry on or just to have some fun conversation. As these forums are not moderated or reviewed by medical professionals, it is sensible to speak to your doctor before acting on any advice relating to your health.2,5
- Blogs – You may also find it useful to read about other people’s journeys of living with diabetes. Blogs (also known as web blogs) are regularly updated websites of personal thoughts, typically written in conversational style. There are plenty of blogs focused on diabetes and they can be a great resource for friends and families of those living with diabetes as well.2,5
- Helplines – Another place to get support and information when you need it is via a helpline. Anyone affected by diabetes, including family and friends, can make use of helplines which provide specialist information, advice, and support on all aspects of living with diabetes.2,5
