Sharing Diabetes: Guide to Telling Others About Your Disease

When you're first diagnosed with diabetes, chances are you have thousands of questions about the condition, how it will change your life, the complications associated with it, and how you'll manage it. So, when you tell your close and loved friends and family about your diagnosis you should expect them to feel the same way. After all, they care about you and your health and will want to know what to expect. They'll likely want to know what they can do to assist you in your lifelong journey. To help them feel more comfortable, you can give them a little information and answer their questions.

Begin by telling them diabetes is "a condition in which there is too much glucose in the blood". Tell them your pancreas can't make insulin or doesn't make enough to regulate your blood glucose levels.

When they ask you what it all means, tell them if your blood glucose levels remain elevated for long periods of time it can damage your body's organs. They may be fearful for you, but remind them with proper management your condition will not yield any complications or risks.

Most families want to know what the most common complications are, just in case they do occur. According to the Better Health Channel, some of the most common complications include damage to the large blood vessels of the heart, damage to the vessels in the legs, and damage to the vessels in the brain. Other complications can be due to small blood vessel damage in the eyes, kidneys, feet, and nerves.

However, be sure to explain how there are many things you can do to avoid any complications. These precautionary actions include seeing your doctor regularly, avoiding the act of smoking, losing weight if you're overweight, reducing your blood pressure, reducing cholesterol levels, being active, eating healthy, and testing your glucose levels frequently. To avoid common eye problems, you should also see an eye doctor each year.

Telling your family and friends about your diabetes doesn't need to be complicated. It can be a bit intimidating and scary, but once you sit down and lay it all on the line, they will likely be understanding and helpful. In many cases, your doctor can give you brochures to give them so you won't be forced to explain the condition all by yourself. Instead, they can read through the material and understand for themselves.