New Year’s Resolutions for Diabetes

If you have diabetes, you may have been overindulging these past few months. The New Year provides the opportunity to come up with a list of resolutions to get back on track and even strengthen your daily regimen of good nutrition, exercise, and proper skin care to manage your condition. Here are some resolutions from various diabetes and medical organizations to consider:

The Diabetes Council

The Diabetes Council[1] offers SMART goal setting, which means goals that you realistically can accomplish. SMART stands for

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic Timely

Examples of SMART goals include:

• Check blood sugar twice a day
• Check feet every day and ask a family member (or friend if appropriate) to remind you
• Add two vegetable servings to meals

John Hopkins

When it comes to diet resolutions, John Hopkins[2] advises:

• Drink more water. It is a simple addition that can make a big difference. Dehydration causes fatigue and decreases motivation. Chronic mild dehydration can cause urinary tract infections, high blood pressure, heart disease and strokes. Aim for at least 2-3 liters of water a day,
• Add more fiber to your diet. High fiber foods like brown rice or beans help the body absorb nutrients more slowly, so you feel full longer.
• Set a goal to cook at least one new recipe a week, using fresh foods in season. Enjoying a new meal, especially with friends and family, can add joy to your life.

Diabetes Daily

There’s strength in numbers, especially when it involves sticking to your plans. Here are a few recommendations from Diabetes Daily[3] about getting involved with others:

Join one of the many online, as well as in-person, communities for people with diabetes to support each other. Healthcare providers may provide in-group meetings or know of local support groups. Other resources include:

• Diabetes Sisters PODS Meetups offers in-person and online opportunities for women 18 and older who have diabetes, including prediabetes. https://diabetessisters.org/pods-meetups
• Defeat Diabetes Foundation offers a listing of support groups by state that meet at local clinics, hospitals, and university medical centers. https://defeatdiabetes.org/get-healthy/diabetes-support-groups/

Volunteer to meet others who are trying to learn more and manage their diabetes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) (https://diabetes.org/) and JDRF (https://www.jdrf.org/), the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, host many events, drives and meetups where you can participate.

Success comes from taking things one step at a time. Make resolutions that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine and give you a sense of accomplishment.

[1] Almekinder, Elisabeth, “New Year’s Resolutions for Diabetes,” The Diabetes Council, June 9, 2020. https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/new-years-resolutions-for-diabetes/

[2] “Diabetes in the New Year,” John Hopkins, Accessed December 19, 2022. https://hopkinsdiabetesinfo.org/diabetes-in-the-new-year/

[3] “5 Actually Achievable Diabetes New Year’s Resolutions for 2022,” Diabetes Daily, Accessed December 19, 2022.

https://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/5-actually-achievable-diabetes-new-years-resolutions-for-2022-695072/