How to Involve Your Family in Diabetes Care for Better Support and Results?
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Pranati Deshpande
An experienced Psychologist with a demonstrated history of working in the health care industry among child and adult populations. Skilled in Lifestyle Concerns and Management, Crisis Counselling, Workplace Violence Prevention, EAP services and other related fields in mental health and wellbeing.
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Mridul, a 45-year-old father of two, was diagnosed with diabetes last year. At first, he felt overwhelmed – he worried about giving up his favourite foods, managing medications, and keeping his energy levels steady.
But things started to change when his family got involved. His wife, Rohini, learned how to prepare his favourite breakfast item with healthier ingredients and additions; his teenage son joined him on evening walks, and even his little daughter took pride in reminding him to check his sugar levels.
What started as a personal challenge turned into a family mission. Today, Mridul doesn’t feel alone on this journey.
His family’s support has not only helped him manage his diabetes better but also brought them closer as a unit. This is the power of involving your family in diabetes care – it’s no longer just your responsibility; it becomes a shared path toward better health and happiness.
Understanding the Role of Family in Diabetes Management
Your spouse reminds you to take your medication before heading out for work, your mom packs roasted chana and sprouts for your snack time, your child enthusiastically joins you for a morning walk, and your siblings try healthier twists on your favourite recipes during family get-togethers. This is how family can transform diabetes care into a shared effort.
It’s true that when one person has diabetes, everyone feels the ripple effects at home. Meal plans may need to change, family routines might adapt to include exercise, and festive treats could require thoughtful substitutions. While challenging at first, these shifts can be seen as opportunities to grow closer and support one another.
But when everyone contributes, however small, diabetes care becomes less overwhelming, and the collective effort helps ease the journey toward better health and well-being.
If you ever feel like these changes are overwhelming, our certified in-house psychologists offer personalized 1-on-1 sessions to help you and your family manage them with ease and understanding.
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10 Practical Ways in Which Family Members Can Support Diabetes Care
Here are some creative and practical ways your family can help:
1. Join in Meal Planning
Involve everyone in meal prep and plan diabetes-friendly meals together. For example, replace heavy snacks with roasted makhana or nuts and add whole grains like bajra for rotis.
2. Hydration Challenge on the Family WhatsApp Group
Start a fun water-drinking challenge in your WhatsApp family group. Share updates, motivate each other, and let the winner pick a reward, like choosing the weekend activity.
3. Involve Cooks and House Help
In Indian homes, our cooks are a huge part of the family. Explain the importance of healthy meals and challenge them to make dishes like parathas with just half a teaspoon of oil or low-oil curries. They’ll love the creativity and feel included in the process.
4. Be Walking Buddies
Turn your evening walks into family time. Walk together and use the time to chat, catch up, or even plan the next day.
5. Festival Food with a Twist
We love our festivals, don’t we? 😁. Festivals are all about sweets and rich food but don’t have to derail your health goals.
Let your host know your dietary needs beforehand, and at home, experiment with low-sugar or stevia-based sweets (for the person with diabetes) so everyone can celebrate guilt-free.
6. Set Medication Reminders
Use calendars or group chats to remind each other about medications, check-ups, or exercise routines. Even better, a phone alarm should be set in case the person with diabetes is forgetful.
7. Family Fitness Challenges
Skip routine walks and turn fitness into fun. Play cricket, organize treasure hunts, or follow a dance workout video together.
8. Cooking Competitions
Have a family cook-off with diabetes-friendly dishes like low-carb chaats or sugar-free desserts. Make it a fun way to discover new recipes.
9. Celebrate Small Wins
When you hit a target sugar level or stick to a weekly routine, celebrate. It could be as simple as having a healthy family meal or a movie night. Positive reinforcement motivates everyone.
10. Keep Healthy Snacks Handy
Replace biscuits and chips at the office or your workspace with healthy alternatives like roasted chana, sprouts, fruits, nuts, etc. Keep them in transparent dabbas at home so everyone benefits.
How to Build a Diabetes-Friendly Home Environment?
Creating a diabetes-friendly home in an urban Indian household can be simple and effective with relatable, everyday adjustments. Here are some ideas tailored for Indian families:
1. Set Up a Masala Dabba for Diabetes-Friendly Spices
Include turmeric, methi seeds, and jeera (cumin) in your spice box. These are staples in Indian cooking and are known to support blood sugar management.
2. Roti Basket Upgrade
Switch to whole-grain or multigrain atta for daily rotis and parathas. To add variety, you can even have your cook experiment with jowar, bajra, or ragi rotis.
3. Desi Snack Jar
Replace traditional fried snacks like bhujia with roasted chana, murmura (puffed rice), or moong dal chivda. Keep these jars visible on the kitchen counter for quick, healthy munching.
4. Seasonal Fruit Corner
In Indian homes, fruits are often reserved for special occasions. Instead, keep seasonal fruits like guava, pomegranate, or jamun on the dining table as a daily option for everyone.
5. Custom Cook Instructions
Most urban Indian families rely on house help for cooking. Share diabetes-friendly tips with them, like using less oil or steaming veggies instead of frying.
Challenge them to make lighter versions of your favourite dishes, like bhindi fry with less oil or replacing aloo parathas with, say, lauki paratha cooked on a tawa with minimal ghee/oil.
6. Family Meals With Thalis
Instead of random servings, choose balanced thalis with smaller portions of carbs, lots of sabzi, and a bowl of dal. It makes portion control feel natural and is culturally familiar.
7. Healthy Chai Breaks
Indians love their chai breaks. Instead of sugary biscuits, swap for whole-grain chakras, masala peanuts, or homemade besan laddoos made with stevia.
8. Celebration Planning
Festivals like Diwali, Eid, or Christmas mean indulgence, but they can also be healthy. Prepare sweets like dates-and-nut barfi or ladoos with stevia, and let everyone participate.
9. Dinner Is Family Time
Encourage everyone to sit together for dinner without distractions. This is an excellent way to ensure mindful eating and discuss health goals casually.
10. Post-Meal Strolls Around the Apartment Complex
Make post-meal walks a family tradition. Most urban Indian complexes have walking paths or small gardens perfect for this.
How to Learn Together as a Family?
In Indian families, we naturally come together to solve challenges, whether planning a wedding or preparing for exams. Managing diabetes can be the same – a team effort.
Join doctor visits to hear advice firsthand and turn meal prep into a learning experience by exploring healthier ingredients like millet or jowar together. Even a casual chai break can spark conversations about portion control or trying diabetes-friendly recipes.
When the family learns together, it eases the process and creates opportunities for celebrating success together, making the experience more meaningful.
How to Encourage Open Communication and Active Listening?
Diabetes care isn’t just about food and exercise – it’s about understanding and support. Often, the person managing diabetes might feel overwhelmed or misunderstood.
Encouraging open conversations at home helps. For instance, instead of assuming they’re okay, ask how they’re feeling or what’s been challenging for them lately.
At the same time, share your thoughts too – like how you want to help but aren’t sure how. Active listening builds trust and ensures that everyone feels heard and supported, making diabetes care a genuinely collaborative effort.
What are the Potential Challenges and How to Address Them?
Managing diabetes as a family isn’t always easy. The person with diabetes might feel frustrated with the constant focus on food or routines, while family members may struggle to find the right balance of support.
Open communication is key – discuss what’s working and what isn’t. Share responsibilities like rotating cooking or planning meals to avoid burnout; hiring a cook can help if it feels overwhelming. But when emotions run high, or misunderstandings arise, our certified psychologists can provide practical guidance through personalized 1-on-1 sessions to ease tensions and strengthen bonds.
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This blog provides general information for educational and informational purposes only and shouldn't be seen as professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a family support someone with diabetes?
Family can help by making small changes together, like preparing balanced meals, participating in exercise routines, and offering reminders for medication or check-ups. Simple actions like listening without judgment or celebrating progress together can make a big difference. If you need focused support for yourself or your family, our in-house certified psychologists are here to help with personalized 1-on-1 consultations.
How do support groups help people with diabetes?
Support groups connect people who understand what it’s like to manage diabetes. Sharing experiences, tips, and encouragement in a group can help reduce stress and create a sense of belonging, making the journey feel less isolating. And if you ever feel like you need more focused guidance, don’t worry - we’re here to help with personalized 1-on-1 consultations. Call 08657583856 to find out more.
How to take care of a diabetic patient at home?
Focus on creating a supportive environment - stock the kitchen with healthy options, encourage regular physical activity, and keep an eye on blood sugar levels. Remember, it’s not just about the patient; small lifestyle changes for the whole family make a big impact.
What are diabetes self-care activities?
These include regular blood sugar monitoring, taking medications as prescribed, eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, managing stress, and keeping up with routine check-ups.
What is a care plan for diabetes?
A care plan is a personalized approach that includes balanced meals, physical activity, medication schedules, and regular check-ups to manage diabetes effectively. It’s designed to fit your daily routine and health needs. And if managing everything feels overwhelming, don’t hesitate to reach out for extra support. Our in-house certified psychologists offer personalized 1-on-1 consultations to help you stay on track. Call 08657583856 to schedule your session today.
What are 4 ways to self-manage diabetes?
Monitor your blood sugar regularly, Stick to a healthy, diabetes-friendly diet, Stay active through walking, yoga, or other exercises, and Manage stress with relaxation techniques or hobbies you enjoy.
How does family affect diabetes?
Family can play a huge role in managing diabetes. Their support in meal planning, exercise, and emotional encouragement makes the journey easier. However, misunderstandings or a lack of awareness can also create challenges, which is why open communication is so important
