I attended the Canadian Diabetes Association Conference in Toronto and the ADI/CPNP Training event in Winnipeg. The two events couldn’t be more different yet similar at the same time. While both were concerned with diabetes management, the former event targeted topics of endocrinology and research while the latter was focussed on enhancing the diabetes management strategies supported by the Community Diabetes Prevention Workers (CDPWs). Both events were exceptional in their presentations and met the needs of their audience. While attending conferences, such as the two mentioned above, one often hears about the losses and costs of diabetes and while these are important as a basis for a diabetes strategy, success stories are also important. Success in controlling diabetes is not highly visible especially as anecdotally some people conceal their condition. The sharing of success stories, as you learn to manage diabetes can be measured in many ways; for example, injecting your own insulin for the first time, or lowering you A1C a percentage point, or taking an even smaller step toward a healthier life or beating loneliness to coming to terms with a tough diagnosis. Each situation defines success differently, but all celebrate the daily triumphs that have helped people reach their goals.
There are two special items that I want to bring to your attention. Both are important because both are opportunities to tell your story and to celebrate your success with others while managing diabetes.
In our summer newsletter and on our website: www.nada.ca. NADA announced the launch of the Just Move It (JMI) website: www.justmoveit.org. This website is a powerful and positive one to visit for you, friends, family and community. This website contains information from many First Nations communities and descriptions of the activities that their community is hosting. You can learn about community involvement into the movement campaign or you can click onto the Planning Tools to learn how to plan an event for yourself, family or community. Then the next step is to tell people about it by sharing your story. By increasing your participation and by sharing your story, you will be creating positive energy for yourself and others in North America.
The second opportunity to learn about diabetes success stories is to search the World Wide Web. Choose your favourite search engine and type in the words: diabetes success stories and you will find over 70 pages of resources, information, motivational corners, all designed with one thing in mind: celebrate your successes. A word of caution is necessary at this time, some websites try to sell you products but most websites promote individual achievement. For example, one website presents a holistic approach to diabetes management and presents information on diet and nutrition, activity and exercise as well as coping with your emotions, just to name a few items. This information is available for individuals who are newly diagnosed as well as to those living with diabetes.
Success stories are important for providing hope to people living/coping with diabetes. The sharing of these success stories is valuable because the efforts and accomplishments made by persons struggling to manage their diabetes are critical to their integrated care and well-being.
So, as you work towards managing your diabetes or if you want to read about others successes visit the JMI website, NADA’s website or visit diabetes success stories on the World Wide Web. Remember to share your story so that others may succeed as well.
Sincerely,
Anita Ducharme