“I’ve been a bad diabetic because my sugar is bad.” It is a common expression frequently heard during diabetes management appointments. A phrase with a deeper meaning and weight for a person living with diabetes, often due to the fear of judgment and perceived failure.
Every Number Tells a Story:
People living with diabetes make more decisions every day in comparison with people without diabetes. Decisions that are important in maintaining and keeping good health. Even with careful planning, blood glucose levels can still fluctuate due to factors such as:
- Food and drink: carbohydrates, protein, fat, alcohol
- Meal timing
- Activity: Intensity and duration of exercise
- Medications: diabetes medications and other medications such as steroids, antipsychotic medications
- Hormonal changes
- Stress and Illness
- Poor or insufficient sleep
- Weather
It is important to remember that blood glucose levels will be different despite having a good routine due to unmodifiable factors that are far beyond what individuals with diabetes can control. Diabetes Management goes beyond having “good” or “bad” blood glucose levels. It is about the opportunity to learn, adapt, and understand how these different factors affect blood glucose levels. Understanding that every number in the glucose meter or sensor tells a story and gives valuable information that helps guide diabetes management.
Beyond Highs and Lows
Having a high or low blood glucose reading does not mean failure and should not be seen as a reflection of personal success or failure. Instead, it should be seen as valuable information that helps guide future decision-making in managing blood glucose levels. If the blood glucose level is out of target, use this opportunity to understand the reason behind the blood glucose reading to help make better choices in the future. Remember, even with thoughtful planning, blood glucose levels can still fluctuate, and that’s okay.
Redefining the blood glucose number
- Acknowledge Without Blame: When blood glucose is beyond the set target, take a deep breath, hold it, and exhale. Ask questions such as “What might have caused this blood glucose level? or “What could be done differently to be in target?” instead of saying “I did something wrong,” which helps shift from blame to creating opportunities for learning.
- Record and Reflect: Take note of the blood glucose reading and the associated activity (i.e., meal, exercise, medication intake) to help identify a pattern that may explain the reading.
- Connect with the Diabetes Healthcare Team: Share blood glucose data openly with members of the diabetes healthcare team. The team understands that there are stories beyond the numbers. They examine the blood glucose data not to judge, but to understand, support, and build a true partnership in diabetes management.
- Celebrate Progress: Recognize and appreciate small wins along the diabetes management journey.
Diabetes management is a journey with highs and lows. Every blood glucose reading provides insight and creates a learning opportunity, even if the numbers are not perfect. It is essential to know the blood glucose levels beyond the numbers.
About the author
Princess Diana Millar-Matias
Princess Diana Millar-Matias is a Registered Nurse and a Certified Diabetes Educator. She currently works at the Diabetes Care and Research Program at Hamilton Health Sciences. She has a background in Cardiac Surgery and Occupational Health, which guided her practice in providing compassionate and evidence-based care. She is passionate about empowering people to take an active role in their health through a supportive education and believes in the power of learning and shared knowledge as tools for transformation.