Talking to Family and Friends

Telling family and friends can feel hard at first. You decide how much to share, and when. Keep your first talk short, like a note on the fridge.

Start with what diabetes is and what it means for you. Blood sugar is the sugar in your blood. Diabetes means it often stays higher than it should be.

A question card reads: Please support me. When tapped, Bindu rewrites it as a clear ask: Can we walk together after dinner? A specific ask is easier for people to help with.

Family often wants to help but does not know how. Give them a clear example, like eating or walking together. A clear ask works like directions to your door. It is easy to say yes to.

Ask your care team which meal and activity plans fit you.

Some help does not help, like comments about every bite. You can say so kindly. Try, "I know you care, but food comments stress me out." Then invite them in: "Want to read this with me?"

You lead your care, with help from people you trust.

Cards such as walking together and comments about every bite sort into what helps and what does not help.

Key takeaways

• Keep it short: say what diabetes is and what it means for you.
• Name what helps, and say kindly what does not.
• Diabetes is managed mostly by you, with help from people you trust.

Try it

Pick one kind of support you want, and write one clear sentence to ask for it.