Self-Care Must-Haves for Diabetes Management

For Nikki, who is living with Type 2 diabetes, self-care is an important part of her routine to manage her condition. 

In the mornings, she’ll listen to calming music to put herself at ease. 

She sparks joy in her surroundings with her fuzzy rug and other comforting home decor. To ground her senses, she uses lavender essential oil in her diffusers, and spends time with her dog and cat.

When it comes to eating healthy, Nikki likes to jazz up her dishware. Whether it’s using fancy gold straws for a smoothie or a bamboo bowl to brighten up a salad, it helps her stay motivated to make healthy food choices.

In the evenings, Nikki likes to use relaxing lighting at dinner, and will continue the self-care by watching a movie or listening to a podcast.

As it turns out, self-care has made a positive difference on Nikki’s health.

“From being intentional with my breathing exercises, from doing my yoga exercises, speaking with my therapist weekly and having those open conversations with my doctors and my personal trainers, it has all really helped with controlling my glucose levels,” she says.

You can read more about Nikki’s experience with Type 2 diabetes here and how she manages her A1C here.

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Written by:

Marisa Taylor Karas

Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.

Reviewed by:

Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP

Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician. Prior to practicing medicine, she worked as a management consultant.

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