Taking care of yourself every day is hard. It’s easy to come up with reasons to put off caring for your diabetes until “tomorrow.” But, if “tomorrow” doesn’t seem to get here, then you may be putting your future at risk.
Here are ten reasons to start taking care of your diabetes today.
1. Prevent complications: Keeping your blood sugar and blood pressure as close to normal as possible will lower your risk for the long-term complications.
2. Live better: Studies have shown that people who keep their blood sugar closer to normal report an improved quality of life, more energy and more zest for living.
3. New treatments: There are more ways to treat diabetes than ever before. That makes it easier it is to find one that works for you.
4. Hope for a cure: New research and technology has led to important breakthroughs in the search for a cure.
5. Why wait?: There is no time like the present to get started.
6. One step at a time: It may be overwhelming to think of doing everything at once. Instead, choose one thing that you will do today.
7. Work smarter: Diabetes education programs are more likely to be paid for by insurance than in the past. The more you know, the better you can do.
8. Your family: Many of the things that you do to take care of your diabetes can help your family members prevent diabetes. Losing a moderate amount of weight (10 to 15 pounds) and exercising 10 minutes, 3 times a day, 5 times per week can lower the risk. Invite your family to join you.
9. You deserve it: No one deserves to be healthy more than you. Why not do everything that you can to live long and well?
10. You tell me: The best reason is the one that means the most to you. It may help to remind yourself of your number one reason when the going gets tough.
When it comes to diabetes, don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
