5 Diabetes Management Strategies for the New Year

Did you know that three out of the four most popular New Year’s resolutions were related to health? Most people would love to:

• Exercise more
• Eat healthier
• Lose weight

Luckily, all of these goals are perfectly aligned with the main diabetes management goals: to reduce blood sugar levels and to keep a healthy weight.

However, research also shows that around 80% of New Year’s Resolutions fail before February.

It can be incredibly hard to stay motivated – especially during a dreary, cold, wet January.

Thankfully, with the right techniques and strategies, it’s possible to stick to your New Year’s Resolution and learn to manage diabetes successfully…

So, this year, instead of abandoning your resolutions after a couple of weeks, try following these five proven (and surprisingly easy) strategies to encourage you to stay-on-track, motivated, and inspired to stick to your weight loss goals!

1. Set Realistic Goals

Before setting off on your new journey it’s important to set realistic goals. Set the bar too high, and you risk putting yourself under too much pressure. Set the bar too low, and you might not be motivated enough to see things through.

Consider what you actually want to ACHIEVE. In your case, it can be eating balanced foods to regulate your blood sugar levels and to lose some weight.

Only a realistic and measurable goal in place to help you achieve your New Year’s weight-loss resolution.

Get yourself a pen and paper, write your goal down, and stick it somewhere you’ll see every day. Here’s an example of a realistic goal: “I want to lose 12 pounds in two months by following my personalized diabetes management meal plan.”

2. Get Your Fluids In

You probably know how important water is to your body – but are you drinking enough of it?

The human body is a complex machine, and sometimes, it can end up mistaking thirst for hunger. To avoid eating too many carbs with snacks, most people that have diabetes should drink eight glasses of water every single day.

If you struggle, consider infusing your water to add flavor. You should always drink at LEAST 2 liters of water every day. You can also try eating water-rich foods like cucumbers and peaches as they’re a great way of getting even more H2O into your body!

3. Exercise Regularly

Successfully losing weight and exercise go hand in hand. Research shows that the more active you are, the more energized you’ll be, and, more importantly, the more motivated you’ll feel. This is essential for anyone who tries to tackle diabetes.

Working out regularly can also help to boost your metabolism, increase your amount of lean muscle mass, and help you to get healthier.

It’s also becoming increasingly evident that regular exercise has a huge impact on mental health – so even if it’s just a brisk 30-minute walk every day, not only are you “prepping” your body for successful weight loss… but you’re also helping your mind stay healthy too!

4. Create a Vision Board

One of the main reasons why people end up giving up their New Year’s resolutions is a lack of visual stimulation. Unfortunately, getting into better shape isn’t something that happens overnight – and that’s why it’s important to have a visual, illustrated tool to help you stack on track and focus on your weight loss goals.

One of the best ways of doing this is with a vision board – it’s like a real-life, “in-your-face” Pinterest… except it’s focused entirely on you, your goals – and it’s personal!

Creating a vision board is fun, easy – and doesn’t need to take long. It can even be done on a piece of A4 paper! 

Include images, motivational quotes, delicious, healthy foods, recipes, your favourite exercise workouts, fitness goals…

Your vision board is entirely personal and should include anything that empowers you to stay focused on your diabetes management goals and reinforce why you set your New Year’s Resolution in the first place.

Note: Try to make your vision board focused on how you want to feel – not just how you want to look. It’s all about creating a visual representation of simple, tangible steps you can take to become a better version of yourself, and if you look at it every day, you’ll find it motivates, inspires, and empowers you to stay on track!

5. Follow The Right Weight Loss Plan

One of the most effective ways to promote healthy weight loss – and maintain it – is to use a personalized diabetes management plan.

A balanced diet consists of foods that make you feel full and helps reduce hunger-inducing hormones in your body. It can also boost your metabolism and help to curb your appetite.

It’s essential to reduce the overall number of carbs you consume because this is the main culprit for high blood pressure. Carbs are your body’s main source of energy, but too much of them is one of the leading causes of diabetes.

Along with regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle, this can make it substantially easier for you to both lose weight and maintain your progress.