3.4 - A Step by Step Plan
Which risk factors do I want to focus on?
In the last stage - What can I do, you will have identified the possible complications you may get if you do not manage your diabetes successfully. This is based on your risk factors - is it high blood pressure or is it cholesterol, smoking etc.
In each of the complication reviews it gave you indications on how you can take care of them. If you analyse them you can use them to establish the direction you should focus on.
To prepare for the changes you have to expand your knowledge at this stage to have a clear and detailed view in your mind of what your risk factors are and how to monitor them.
For example we can see from the risk factors that we must lower our blood pressure, this is a very broad statement. We now have to have more detailed knowledge of what to base our decision on so we can adjust our lifestyle.
The questions I would ask my G.P. about my Blood Pressure are:
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How high is my blood pressure?
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What should we lower it to?
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How do we measure our blood pressure?
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How can I improve and maintain good blood pressure?
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What would influence my blood pressure?
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7-9 portions of fruit and vegetables daily
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Which of the above am I going to tackle?
(you may chose one or more of the above to start with)
For example lets choose exercise.
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How am I going to do this?
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Walk 1/2 hour per day after dinner
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Make sure I have good footwear
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What is going to stop me?
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What will I do about it?
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Make sure I have proper clothing
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How confident do I feel that I can do this
If you are not very confident in achieving your goal start off doing less and build up to it, start of with twice a week with 10 min time periods then gradually increase your activity.
Summary
You have taken the first step by making an achievable plan.
Next Page - Action Plan Script
