A Beacon Of Hope For Type 2 Diabetics - How To Cultivate A Wellness Mindset
- Brainz Magazine
- Oct 28, 2021
- 5 min read
Written by: Kim McKay
I remember the day I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I was sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office and I felt good. So when he told me that the results of my most recent blood test confirmed that I was a type 2 diabetic. The world stopped for a moment. I was shocked, overwhelmed and not sure what to do next. I did not feel any different and was not experiencing any of the symptoms of diabetes. At that time, I was told to change my diet and get more exercise and that he would check my blood sugar again in three months.
Many people when they first get diagnosed with type 2 diabetes don’t know where to turn or what to do next. They start doing research and find conflicting advice and information which creates confusion. They start thinking about all of the horrors stories heart attacks, kidney problems, amputations. The complications that come with diabetes play like a tape over and over in their head. The tape is relentless. There is no cure.
What is missing from this narrative is the good news; many people can make diet and lifestyles changes and greatly improve their diabetes and avoid complications. Diabetes can be reversed and successfully managed. I know first-hand that this is possible because I followed the steps I was taught and was able to lose 40 lbs, increase my activity level and keep my blood sugar within target.
The goal is to stay off of medications for as long as possible. I was one of the lucky ones because I had access to diabetic education in my community and after my experience I decided to help others and become a coach. I combined my diabetic education with some of my coaching frameworks to build a business that supports women who struggle with high blood sugar even though they take medication or on insulin. Not everyone gets diabetic education when they are first diagnosed.
The truth about having diabetes is we look for answers in books and on google some of us go to a dietician; we spend time with specialists and in the wee hours of the night we are worrying about everything. We look for the answers outside of ourselves. We lose sleep, we isolate, we feel ashamed and sometimes we even feel like giving up. These added stresses lead to increased insulin resistance and higher blood sugar levels.
Our body has the ability to heal naturally and your mindset is the key to this transformation. Mindset includes your thoughts, beliefs, actions and behaviours. You get to decide if you will embrace a wellness mindset or you believe you are doomed because of your diagnosis. We know from looking at cancer patients those who get support and see the possibility of healing do better during the course of their treatments and once treatment is done.
Your birthright is to be healthy and to avoid suffering with the complications of diabetes. But in order to become a healthier version of you it is critical that you change the way you think of diabetes and how you care for yourself each and every day. If your numbers are high you simply adjust. The readings do not define you. Testing gives you information and allows you to make healthier choices. A wellness mindset informs your decisions so that you can change your meal plan and increase your activity level.
But what if you had the confidence that no matter what happens each day you have a tool or strategy that will make your day to day care effortless, ease your worry and you started enjoying your life today? What if you decided to give up the struggle and surrender to a new path? What activities have you been leaving behind because you do not feel well?
People are resilient. The pandemic has shown us that shifts are required that the path to wellness has ups and downs and is not a straight line. Success is possible.
Here are the five steps for developing a wellness mindset; I use with my clients to help them change their perspective about type 2 diabetes:
Decide today that you are going to make your day to day care your number one priority
Accept that you have a chronic condition that can be managed and that you can participate in all the activities that give you joy and bring you happiness
Each day make one decision that contributes to your health
Develop an awareness of the obstacles in your path and develop a plan to overcome these
Build a wellness network – that can provide support and up-lift you when days are hard and you have challenges
I created BALANCE my signature group program to support others that are on this journey and need guidance and a step by step plan. You are not ALONE. Many doctors tell you, you can self-manage this disease. This simply is not true. If it was the rate of reversal and pre-diabetics would be going down and that is not the case. You need to know the steps that will keep you healthy and you need to integrate them into your life. Not everyone struggles with the same challenges when it comes to their diabetes however there are common themes and the key is to find the solutions that work for you. Personally, when I decided to be open to new things I found hobbies I really enjoyed. I tried new recipes that were delicious and kept me feeling satisfied. I discovered that I was using food to help me deal with stress in my life and decided to become more active instead.
Imagine your life without worry, anxiety, stress and overwhelm so that you stay motivated to make the health and lifestyle changes you need to make to keep your blood sugars stable and within target. How would that feel? You can create your own individualized wellness plan to support you on your journey and recovery. You deserve to be living every day in joy, stress-free, practicing self-compassion and self-care. You matter! Don’t let diabetes defeat you! There is HOPE, all you need is a new way, shift your mindset, find the tools and strategies that will support you. Reclaim your wellness today and do not settle for anything less than a fulfilling life.
Kim McKay, Guest Writer Brainz Magazine
Kim McKay started her wellness journey in 2004 when she was diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic and experienced her own transformation by making lifestyle changes to control her blood sugar and improve her overall health. Kim is passionate about helping her clients manage their Type 2 diabetes so that they have the time and energy to focus on other areas of their life. Kim is a Blood Sugar Balancing Coach and owner of Rising Phoenix Health and Wellness Coaching and has developed the Balance Signature Group Program to help Type 2 diabetics thrive. Kim’s clients describe her as the compassionate coach who creates a safe environment so that her clients can explore the issues that have been holding them back from practicing radical self-care. When she is not coaching Kim spends time with her partner and her dog and has been known to travel by hot air balloon.
