The CGM Blog
Taking the First Steps After a Diabetes Diagnosis
Receiving a diabetes diagnosis can feel shocking, stressful, and even scary, among so many other feelings. In fact, Diabetes Canada draws parallels between the emotions you may have in the wake of a diagnosis with the stages of grief.1 Living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes requires you to make adjustments to your lifestyle that might not be comfortable at first.
As overwhelming as being diagnosed with diabetes can feel, know that when you equip yourself with the right tools, education, and support, you are more than capable of managing your health and empowering yourself to get the most out of life despite a new diabetes diagnosis.
A Diagnosis Doesn’t Mean You Did Something Wrong
A diabetes diagnosis is not a personal failure. There are many elements that can contribute to developing type 1 or type 2 diabetes including genetics and other environmental factors.2 Be kind to yourself during this initial period of living with and managing diabetes. It’s okay to not yet fully understand why you or your loved one developed diabetes, but what’s essential is having an open mind about learning how to manage it.
And do be mindful about your inner narrative around diabetes. For example, while weight has been shown to play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.3
Social factors can also impact health outcomes. For members of Canada’s Indigenous community, connections have been made between the stress associated with intergenerational trauma and negative health outcomes including higher rates of diabetes.4
Diagnosed with Diabetes: Now What?
After being newly diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, one of the best ways to begin the process of managing diabetes is to get curious. Your healthcare provider is your partner in education and will be the best resource to help you make decisions that are right for your unique needs. It’s important to maintain open communication with your healthcare provider team so that they understand what’s working for you on a day-to-day basis, and what isn’t.
You may want to learn more about the options available to help you manage diabetes such as:
- Diabetes medication and insulin: Your healthcare provider will be able to guide you through the clinical treatments available for diabetes management, depending upon if you have been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2. Insulin is required for treatment of Type 1 diabetes, but may not be necessary right away in Type 2 diabetes. Other options for Type 2 diabetes include oral and injectable medications that help improve your blood sugar which you can also explore with your doctor. Other options include medications like glucose inhibitors, which you can also explore with your primary care doctor or a specialist for diabetes.
- Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices for diabetes management: CGM systems like the Dexcom G6 CGM System can make it easier to stay on top of your body’s glucose levels throughout the day and night by allowing you to see where your levels are at, where they are heading, and alerting you to any changes. Dexcom G6 is a wearable device that continuously measures glucose levels just beneath the skin and sends that data to your smartphone* or receiver up to every 5 minutes. You can share this data with your doctor via Dexcom Clarity and with your friends and family via the Dexcom Share feature and Follow app.†
Outside of the doctor’s office, there are plenty of resources to help you learn a bit more about your diagnosis and give you ideas about ways you may want to manage diabetes. Here are some great places to start that can help answer some of your questions about type 1 and type 2 diabetes:
Focus on Your Health and Well-being
Managing diabetes means you will likely need to learn about your own body and pay closer attention to what makes you feel your best. For people living with diabetes, self-care requires dedication. Forming daily habits that support your health is one of the ways you can work to improve your overall well-being.
There are several diabetes self-care management activities that are recommended for people living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, these include but are not limited to 5:
- Following a healthy diet plan
- Exercising regularly
- Monitoring glucose levels
- Foot care6
In addition to discussing your exercise and diet options, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about your overall diabetes management plan and how CGM technology may help you navigate the winding road of diabetes management.
Build Your Support Network
You’re never alone in your diabetes diagnosis. Your loved ones and your healthcare provider are your partners in managing diabetes. It’s a great idea to ask for help and support at every stage.
Mental health is intertwined with managing diabetes. It’s normal to struggle with the new ways you must approach your lifestyle as a person living with diabetes.
Making mental health a part of your diabetes management plan also plays a role in your overall health. People often wonder how does diabetes affect mental health? Diabetes-related emotional stress is associated with higher A1C levels.7 Having negative feelings about your diagnosis is normal. Often, one of the healthiest way to process your emotions around your diagnosis is to mindfully experience them without judgement using meditation based strategies.8
Stay open with your support network and healthcare provider about your mental health as you move through this experience. Maintaining close connections with friends and family and reaching out to a mental health professional if you need to can be a central pillar of your diabetes management plan.
There are communities both online and off that you can lean on to help you learn more about diabetes and get the support you need through your journey.
- Our Dexcom Warrior community shares personal stories about living with diabetes and their experience with CGM technology.
- Programs like Connected in Motion bring together people living with type 1 diabetes for outdoor activities.
- For children and teens, programs like I Challenge Diabetes and Diabetes Canada D-Camps give young people a chance to connect and enjoy being a kid in a supportive environment.
- For those living with Type 2 diabetes, Diabetes Canada also offers a Peer Connect Program.
Take the next step towards caring for yourself after a diabetes diagnosis. Learn how Dexcom G6 can help you monitor your glucose levels, so you can manage your diabetes with more confidence and a little extra peace of mind.
The information in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or health care provider with any questions you may have.
* For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit dexcom.com/compatibility.
† Separate Follow app and internet connection required.
‡ Back of upper arm wear is available for users 18 years and older.
† Separate Follow app and internet connection required.
‡ Back of upper arm wear is available for users 18 years and older.
1 Mental health issues. Diabetes Canada. Accessed May 10, 2022. https://www.diabetes.ca/managing-my-diabetes/preventing-complications/mental-health-issues
2 Symptoms & Causes of Diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Updated December 2016. Accessed May 10, 2022. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/symptoms-causes
3 Prebtani APH, et al. Diabetes Canada 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada: Reducing the Risk of Developing Diabetes. Can J Diabetes 2018;42(Suppl 1):S20-S26.
4 Lewis ME, et. al. Stress and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk for Indigenous Populations throughout the Lifespan. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(4):1821. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041821
5 Shrivastava SR, et. al. Shrivastava PS, Ramasamy J. Role of self-care in management of diabetes mellitus. J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2013;12(1):14. doi: 10.1186/2251-6581-12-14
6 Chao YS, et. al. Preventative Foot Care for Patients with Diabetes: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness, and Guidelines. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health;2018.
7 Robinson DJ, et. al. Diabetes and Mental Health. Canadian Journal of Diabetes. 2018;42:S130-S141. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.10.031
8 Priya G, et. al. Mind-Body Interactions and Mindfulness Meditation in Diabetes. Eur Endocrinol. 2018;14(1):35-41. doi: 10.17925/EE.2018.14.1.35
2 Symptoms & Causes of Diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Updated December 2016. Accessed May 10, 2022. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/symptoms-causes
3 Prebtani APH, et al. Diabetes Canada 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada: Reducing the Risk of Developing Diabetes. Can J Diabetes 2018;42(Suppl 1):S20-S26.
4 Lewis ME, et. al. Stress and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk for Indigenous Populations throughout the Lifespan. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(4):1821. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041821
5 Shrivastava SR, et. al. Shrivastava PS, Ramasamy J. Role of self-care in management of diabetes mellitus. J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2013;12(1):14. doi: 10.1186/2251-6581-12-14
6 Chao YS, et. al. Preventative Foot Care for Patients with Diabetes: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness, and Guidelines. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health;2018.
7 Robinson DJ, et. al. Diabetes and Mental Health. Canadian Journal of Diabetes. 2018;42:S130-S141. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.10.031
8 Priya G, et. al. Mind-Body Interactions and Mindfulness Meditation in Diabetes. Eur Endocrinol. 2018;14(1):35-41. doi: 10.17925/EE.2018.14.1.35