Living with diabetes: Your nightly checkup

For diabetics, bedtime is a good time to assess how well they managed their diabetes during the day. Did they follow the diet, exercise and medication regime prescribed by their doctor or do they need to do better tomorrow?

Whatever your going-to-bed routine, if you’re a diabetic it’s the perfect time to focus on yourself and make an honest assessment of how you handled your illness today against your healthy lifestyle goals. The answers to a few simple questions will help you focus on what you need to do to control your diabetes and make you far more committed to doing even better tomorrow.

Put a copy of these questions on your bedside table and ask yourself a few of them every night.

My eating today

• Did I eat a healthy breakfast?
• Did I savour three pieces of fruit?
• Did I enjoy plenty of vegetables?
• Did I choose whole-grain bread over white bread?
• Did I overeat at lunch or supper?
• Did I snack from stress, boredom or habit?
• Did I feel bloated from overeating?
• Did I show restraint when offered cake or candy?
• Did I have a salad or a bowl of soup?
• Did I drink plenty of water?
• Did I pass on the soda and sweet drinks?

My lifestyle today

• Did I follow the diabetes regimen I agreed to with my doctor?
• Did I take my medicines as I'm supposed to?
• Did I walk as much as I could have?
• Did I make time for a little extra activity?
• Did I floss my teeth?
• Did I get outdoors and enjoy some fresh air?
• Did I take at least 15 minutes to really relax and unwind?
• Did I avoid sitting for more than an hour at a time?

My attitude today

• Did I laugh out loud?
• Did I learn something new?
• Did I stay positive?
• Did I spend quality time with family, friends or co-workers?
• Did I get angry or stressed when I shouldn't have?
• Did I show love or gratitude to someone?
• Did I accomplish the things I wanted to?
• Did I watch too much TV?
• Did I waste time on my laptop, cell phone or tablet?

A few questions and a few moments each day to focus entirely on yourself can make a difference to your health and how well you are living with diabetes. Don't underestimate the power they can have on your health and happiness.