Reverse Diabetes By Finding Your “Why”

Humans like to know the “why.”

Whether it’s the reason the stars shine at night or the importance of eating certain foods, we don’t accept unfounded answers. We need to know exactly why things are the way they are.

The same concept applies to understanding our own health and wellness prerogatives. It’s not enough for us to say we want to be healthy just because it seems like the right thing to do. In order to succeed in our self-care missions, we need to cultivate a strong, personal “why.”

This is especially true when it comes to battling chronic conditions like diabetes. More than 37 million Americans face type 2 diabetes every day, making it one of the most common health conditions in the country.

Waging war against the symptoms of diabetes can feel like an uphill battle – and it’s one that requires passion and understanding to win. That’s why I encourage every person to think long and hard about their personal reasons for learning about diabetes disease management.

How to Find Your Own “Why”

Finding your “why” might seem simple, but I want to dig deeper than most people might think to.

When I ask why my clients want to reverse their type 2 diabetes, many immediately state that they don’t want to get further complications from the disease or that they just want to feel better. Although these are genuine, important reasons, these are not personal “whys.”

No one wants complications — or diabetes at all, for that matter. Therefore, these are relatively impersonal answers to the “why?” question, and that makes them less effective in battle.

Ask yourself this: what happens in your life if you don’t reverse diabetes? What is the conditioning costing you, both now and in the future? This is the answer to your why.

When I help my clients uncover their “whys,” the conversation often goes a little like this:

Why do you want to reverse diabetes? I don’t like taking medications.

Why don’t you like taking medications? I forget them and I don’t like taking pills.

Why do you forget to take your medication? I don’t like how it makes me feel and the medications cost so much. If I don’t take my pills every day, I can stretch my money further and avoid discomfort. 

Why do you want to stretch it out a little further? I don’t like having diabetes, and I don’t want to spend my hard-earned money on medication. I’m mad that I even have diabetes in the first place and want to make changes. 

And there you have it. By taking a more inquisitive path, we discovered the true “why.”

We narrowed the answer down to understand the true incentives behind my client’s desire to mitigate risks and manage symptoms. In doing so, we got to the heart of their deep-seated emotions.

This can be challenging (and somewhat painful), but emotions are strong motivators for change. I want to tap into your true “why” so that you can harness your feelings and make lasting improvements.

Acknowledge Your Anger, But Don’t Let It Rule You 

In discovering your “why” behind prioritizing diabetes disease management, you may discover quite a bit of anger. This emotion can be a real wildcard.

Sometimes, anger can send people down an unproductive path of denial and spite. In other cases, it can light a fire and propel people to fiercely pursue their health. It just depends on your mindset and specific situation.

If you are experiencing anger, denial, guilt, or frustration about having or getting diabetes, you are not alone. No one wants or plans to have their life interrupted by diabetes, and it’s normal to feel frustrated at your new reality.

The key is realizing how to use these strong emotions as tools, rather than letting them impede your success. You can harness what you’re feeling and use its power to keep going, even when the going is tough.

Today, I want you to grab diabetes and say, “Hey – now that you’re here, I’m going to distance myself from you and build a life of peace and harmony between us. I’m mad that you’re here, but I’m moving forward – for myself.”

What to Do Once You Have Your “Why” 

Some people might uncover their “whys” the first time they think about it, but most will take several sessions of inquiry to understand theirs. Don’t kick yourself if you have to ask yourself questions dozens of times to get to the root of your mission.

If you do have your “why,” you’re probably thinking, “What’s next?” 

Your next step is to make an active decision to move forward – without looking back. You’ve got your reason to change, and now you need to commit to making the change.

Commitment isn’t just about deciding you will change. It’s also about considering possible obstacles that will throw you off your course.

• What will you do when you get frustrated by a blood pressure spike?
• How will you combat lethargy and fatigue when it’s time to be active?
• What’s your tactic for handling eating at restaurants with friends and family?

The more you plan for inevitable situations, the easier it will be to push through the setbacks and stay committed. My suggestion is to get a notebook and start writing about anything and everything.

Jot down ideas or suggestions you want to remember. Make lists of tactics for moving forward. Journal when you feel overwhelmed or exasperated. This will help you stick to your original goals, but it will also give you a safe space to breathe and feel your emotions.

You can do this. You deserve better health, and you have every right to prioritize your “why” in every decision you make.

The Bottom Line 

There you have it – a quick overview to finding your “why” on the road to reversing type 2 diabetes.

A final word of advice: as you work on mitigating your diabetes symptoms and finding your “why,” don’t forget to laugh and love – even when it’s hard. Showing care to yourself and others is one of the best ways to lower your blood sugar and embrace a healthier lifestyle, both mentally and physically.