Being diagnosed with diabetes can change a lot of things. But it does not change who you are or what you want from life.
Diabetes is something you learn to live with while you move through life. The key is to take charge, make plans, set goals, stay motivated and not to be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Setting goals helps us focus. It can help us better deal with the everyday demands of our life, work, relationships and health to achieve the things we want.
Setting goals can help you feel more empowered about your diabetes too. It can help you build routines and habits that make it easier to manage healthy eating, exercise and blood glucose levels so you have plenty of time to fit in all the other things you want to do in life.
Once you choose goals that are right for you, it is important to stay motivated and to not give up if things do not go to plan. Remember that life is not all about diabetes. Diabetes is only part of your life.
Not every day can be perfect, so be kind to yourself if you have a bad day, then get back on track when you are ready again.
There are lots of ways of sorting your goals. One of the most common ways is to think in terms of when you could achieve them. Is it something you can do in the next month or is it something that needs more time?
Having a mix of both long- and short-term goals can be helpful, as it gives you more chances to celebrate wins along the way.
These are the goals you want to achieve in the next day, week or month – for example, you may want to go out with friends on the weekend or go bushwalking later this month.
Knowing that you feel better and have more energy when your blood glucose levels are in range can help you set short-term goals for managing your diabetes to fit around those activities.
These are the bigger dreams you want to achieve in the future. One day you might want to write a book, travel overseas, or retire to the beach.
In this case, it helps to set regular milestones to check your progress along the way and to make sure your diabetes management is on track to achieve your goals.
Whether you want to learn a new language, get fit enough to keep up with your grandkids, change your career or travel overseas, living with diabetes should not stop you from doing whatever it is you want to do. This section gives an overview of the tips that have helped people set goals, stay motivated, and eventually achieve the things they wanted to.
Some of these will be familiar, but do not feel discouraged if they do not apply to you. The techniques and tips covered in When to get support are still likely to be helpful.
Your personal goals should be just that – personal to you! This means choosing things that get you excited and fill you with hope. It is also important to make sure your goals are something you feel you can do. Sometimes it can be hard to know what is actually possible, and there can be physical, practical and financial things to consider too.
Breaking down your goal into small steps and understanding the reason why you want to do it can be helpful. This way, when things do not go to plan, you can either adjust your goal or see how you could achieve it in a different way.
Your goals do not have to be about your health for you to benefit from support from a health professional. You can let your GP, diabetes educator or anyone else who supports you know about your goals. They can help you develop a plan to help you keep your diabetes on track so you can achieve those goals. Just as importantly, they can also help you get back on track if things do not go to plan.
A supportive team – of your friends, family, health professionals, peers, and your community – can make a big difference. They can help you figure out your goals, make a plan to get there, motivate you to stay on track, and help pick you up when you feel down.
You might also like to consider joining a group or program. Having people around you who are working towards similar goals can be really inspiring and motivating, and help you keep going in tougher times. You can explore some of the diabetes peer support groups and programs below.
Once you understand your diabetes needs and have set your goal, take the time to create a realistic plan that allows you to fit them both comfortably into your life. Keep a diary of your blood glucose levels, blood pressure, diet and exercise routines and how long you spend managing your diabetes each day. Understanding how your diabetes is tracking and how much time you need to devote to it each day can help you plan the best way to fit your diabetes care into your short- and long-term goals.
Set aside time to stop and think about what you have achieved each day. Allow yourself to feel proud about it. There are sure to be some unexpected bumps along the way. There may even be times when it makes sense to adjust your goals or change them completely. The important thing is to be flexible when things change and celebrate when things go well.
If you are struggling to set goals or find motivation to effectively take care of your diabetes, or you would just like some extra help, there are a range of support services available to you.
Head to Health (1800 595 212) is a free service which can help you navigate your options and find which local services and supports might be right for you. You might also like to explore free resources from any of the other organisations listed in the support services page.
Find more resources, programs and peer support from across NDSS. For young people, our Diabetes Youth Zone is a go-to guide with useful resources, tips and advice for managing diabetes with confidence.
Connecting with other people who have diabetes is an effective means of accessing peer support. Sharing your experiences with others can help you feel less alone.
Careful planning before travelling is very important when you have diabetes. You will need to consider your diabetes management and general health, available food choices what to pack and travel insurance.
