Subconsciously most people know that their good health is their most important asset, and one worthy of keeping through care and attention. In practice, however, healthy people tend to take their good health for granted – until they receive a diagnosis of a chronic condition that reverberates like a punch to the gut. Many chronic conditions can be managed through lifestyle and diet changes, such as avoiding gluten if you’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease. Others require more careful planning and management.
It’s important, too, to understand how such a diagnosis can impact your health in other, seemingly unrelated ways. For example, diabetes can lead to certain foot issues, like those seen and treated at Foot Doctor San Diego. It’s also not uncommon for people with a chronic diagnosis to feel so overwhelmed and sad that it can lead to mental health disorders like depression. Early and practical action can help people cope with their diagnosis by making adjustments that allow them to retain many of the activities they enjoy.
Don’t be a passive host to your condition
Taking action is the best thing you can do following your chronic condition diagnosis. It may take you a few days or even weeks to absorb what you heard and what the future may hold, but once you’ve regained your composure, don’t concede an early defeat by doing nothing! Getting started earlier can make you feel better both physically and emotionally.
Set a plan to help you remember to take any medications. Ask your family to participate in some of the lifestyle changes you’re making, such as eating and exercising, to both motivate you and keep you emotionally connected. Together you can create meal plans to keep you on track with healthy eating; if you need assistance, ask your medical team for a referral to a dietitian. Ask your treating physician for approved physical exercise activities. Keep a daily journal of how you feel, and any symptoms – you may feel like you are relying heavily on your doctor, but in reality, you’re the CEO of your health, and your doctor needs to rely on you to stay on top of how you are feeling.
Plan for the future
Your diagnosis may have your mind going to end-of-life considerations, such as creating a living will. Those are activities that everyone should complete, regardless of health, so if that crosses items off your to-do list, then do them. But you should also plan for your short-term needs. Even if they aren’t significant, you will have less to worry about and deal with later when you want to devote your time to pleasurable things and not tasks.
For example, will your diagnosis negatively impact your future mobility? In addition to foot problems that diabetic patients can encounter, such as diabetic neuropathy and claw toe, other chronic conditions can also affect your feet and thus, your mobility. Arthritis can cause foot pain and conditions such as bone spurs. Osteoporosis can weaken your bones and lead to foot fractures. Even chronic and serious bunions can cause mobility and balance issues, making it difficult to navigate stairs and walk long distances.
Where you live can be important to how you live
Taking into account any current or future mobility issues, assess whether your current living environment is adequate, or even if it can aggravate your symptoms or condition. Consider moving into a more accessible home, such as from a two-story to a one-story. Get a jump on successfully securing the perfect home when you find it by checking your credit report, assessing your income and expenses to see how much home you can afford, and getting pre-approved for a home mortgage. Armed with that information, you can scour online sites and find a real estate agent to help you find the right home in the right neighborhood.
Once you’ve found a home, you can make your life easier by hiring a professional moving service to take care of some or all of your moving needs. Research local movers on Angi to discuss exactly what you need and to get a quote. Before calling, look at their online reviews to screen out potential problems. Once you get your verbal quote over the phone, ask them to send it in a written estimate; if they’re legitimate, they won’t put a firm quote in writing without coming to your home to personally evaluate the scope of the job and then formulate the cost.
Health redefined
Living with a chronic condition requires some adjustments. By taking early action and tangible steps to make those adjustments, you’re redefining and adapting to what “healthy” now means for you. Getting on with your life, and getting the most out of it both physically and mentally, is the most important thing. Keep listening to your body and loop those conversations back into your continued care.
Find additional helpful articles like this on Foot Doctor San Diego / La Jolla Podiatrist