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4 Diabetes New Years Resolutions

4 Diabetes New Years Resolutions
Most people like to start their new year with a mission to accomplish goals. For people with diabetes, healthy New Year’s resolutions can also help manage your condition.

Whether you want to change your eating habits or pick up a new exercise routine, New Year’s resolutions are an excellent way to stay motivated.

The most important thing about making New Year’s resolutions is sticking to them! If you fall off of your wagon, get back on! Finish the year as strong as you started it.
If you’ve fallen short of your goals this year, now is the time to get motivated to start them again.

How to set goals


When setting goals, it’s important to make sure they’re SMART. Smart is more than an adjective, it’s an acronym to help you set realistic goals.

S –Specific. Target a particular aspect of your diabetes management.
M – Measurable. How will you know when your goal is achieved?
A – Achievable. Do you have a high chance of reaching your goal?
R – Realistic. Is your goal realistic?
T – Timely. In what time frame will you reach your goal?

Here are some examples of smart goals:

Keeping Doctor’s Appointments


Seeing your doctor regularly can help you stay on track. Make seeing your provider 2-4 times per year a goal this year.

Eating Better


Make a goal to cut out an unhealthy snack. You can improve your diabetes by cutting back on sugary drinks or candies.

Instead of cutting out foods, try adding healthier ones. Make a goal to add 2 vegetable servings to your meals each day.

Moving More


When it comes to making fitness resolutions, start small. You don’t have to go run a marathon to stay in shape. You can start by making small goals to increase your activity throughout the day.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work or park your car farther when you go grocery shopping.

A fun way to get some exercise in is to join group fitness classes. Yoga is great for beginners because it is low-impact. Try experiencing a new fitness class each month to keep things exciting.

Make sure you speak to your provider before you embark on your fitness resolutions.

Managing Diabetes


You can make a goal to check your blood sugar 1 or 2 times per day.

Make a goal to keep track of your important health numbers. The health numbers you should keep track of are your A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol numbers and body mass index (BMI).

Ask your doctor to explain to you what your numbers mean if there are any numbers that can be improved. Try to keep a record of your numbers throughout the year so that you can look back and see if they have improved.

Holding yourself accountable can help you stay motivated throughout the year.
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