LET'S GO BACK TO SCHOOL

YOUR DIABETES MANAGEMENT CAN GET A WHOLE LOT EASIER WHEN YOU THINK – AND ACT – LIKE A STUDENT

- DEBBIE KOENIG

Remember what it was like to get ready for a new school year? The preparation, the anticipation, the excitement around starting anew and setting yourself up for success. Imagine what could happen if you approached your diabetes management the same way, taking time each year to set yourself up for what lies ahead. We’ll help you embrace the five pillars of a back-to-school mindset to help you get ready for another successful year.

1. Get organised

You probably learned how to use a planner in high school, but it may have been a while since you relied on one. When you’re trying to juggle the countless details of daily life and diabetes management, a planner –whether paper or electronic – can help you stay on top of your needs and focus on what’s most important. No matter what form your planner takes, try using it in these three ways.

Work towards your goals

Use your planner to help you set small goals and set aside the time to work towards them. Want to walk more? Block out a post-lunch walk in your planner twice a week. Make meal-prepping easier by pencilling in an hour on the weekend to chop vegetables. You can also use your planner to track your progress and reflect on how you’ve done. “When you put [a goal] in the planner and accomplish it, you get a great feeling, and the reinforcement to keep going,” says Susan Weiner, co-author of The Complete Diabetes Organizer.