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Levister offers a good starting point that you can easily tweak based on your unique journey and the person you’re talking to:
“I’m telling you about my diagnosis because I care about you and our relationship. I’d like to be able to talk to you about it, so I want to share what I’ve learned so far as I’ve discussed nutrition with my registered dietitian/doctor. They explained that having type 2 diabetes doesn’t mean I can never have sweets or carbs again. Instead, they stressed that I should be mindful of what I’m eating, including my portion sizes. They also said that many of the nutrition changes recommended for people with diabetes are things that are recommended to most people in general, including eating more fruits and vegetables, more fiber, and more lean protein. I want to be clear that I don’t need commentary or feedback on what I’m supposed to eat or how I’m supposed to move. I’m working with my dietitian/doctor to take care of myself. Right now, I would appreciate your support, understanding, and encouragement. If you have any questions about my diagnosis, I’m happy to answer them.”
Once you are finished, you can ask your loved ones to chime in or their thoughts. If they aren’t receptive, the “assertive formula” may help you communicate your needs more directly, Dr. Ward notes.
This dialogue may look something like this:
“It makes me feel [ashamed, hurt, angry, anxious, etc.] when you comment ABC [I ate a specific type of food, I walked for 20 minutes instead of 30, etc.]. In the future, I’d prefer XYZ [you keep judgmental comments to yourself, you trust me to manage my condition, etc.].”
Still not getting the response you’d like? Dr. Ward says that taking your loved ones to a family therapist can help you develop better communication skills.
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Although your loved one wants what’s best for you, they may not always know the best way to support you.
“Sometimes you need to tell [loved ones] what you need from them,” Levister says.
Do you need someone to look out for potentially dangerous situations or symptoms? Let your loved one know what
