I’ve often wondered which comes first – one’s personality or diabetes. What I mean is, if someone is totally on top of their diabetes management – checks blood glucose levels frequently, takes medication on time, exercises routinely, etc., etc., would they have been like this anyway? Or did getting diabetes make them more attentive, obsessive, observant – whatever you want to call it?
On the other hand, if someone with diabetes doesn’t check blood glucose, doesn’t exercise, doesn’t pay attention to food choices, etc., are they responding to being angry at having the disease? Or would they have dealt with it this way no matter what?
I’m reading a great book called, “Succeed: How we can reach our goals” by Heidi Grant Halvorson. In it she talks about our innate ability to change. Many times we think we are born the way we are and cannot change aspects of our personality. Heidi dispels this myth and assures us that we can definitely change if we want to, and if we work at it. She also explains that we have certain types of beliefs. Some of us believe our personalities are fixed while others of us believe we can change, improve and grow. Our beliefs play a huge role in how we live.
I have to admit I’ve spent some time in the “fixed personality” belief group, but I’ve been working for a while to get into the other group. Believing we can change and improve can be especially important for people with a chronic condition like diabetes. And we don’t have to be perfect! Growing and improving involves falling down from time to time – and accepting ourselves despite all of it.