Knowing that lifestyle is an important factor in the development of type 2 diabetes, many people incorrectly assume that having diabetes ‘’is their own fault’’, or that ‘’they are to blame’’.
Unfortunately, this assumption about diabetes is often confirmed in the media. This assumption ignores the fact that other factors, such as genes, also play an important role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is never just a matter of overeating…
For people with type 2 diabetes, having feelings of guilt or self-blame is not helpful. This negative self-talk is believed to be helpful, but in reality only ‘helps’ to feel bad about yourself and making it even more unlikely to reach a goal next time. Research shows that having negative emotions (about yourself) increase the chances of depression and worsens/deteriorates your self-care, with higher HbA1c’s as a possible consequence.
Therefore, it is important to try to be (more) positive about all the effort you are putting in your diabetes self-management.
However, because this self-talk is so powerful and automatic, it is quite difficult to change it yourself. You will need someone else to help you change this negative self-talk. Or at least: you will need someone else’s voice to teach you how to talk differently and more positively to yourself.
Think of someone who you really like (and who really likes you J), and try to ‘’borrow’’ his/her voice. What would he/she say to you about not having reached your goal?
What would be positive in his voice? And what would be helpful to you?
Try to write down at least 3 positive/helpful things that this person would say to you. Write them down on a nice looking piece of paper/postcard and keep them with you. Look at the card/paper at least once a day.