Facing the Challenge of Maintaining My Diabetes Routine As Winter Hits

As the dark lasts longer into the morning and it's all warm and snuggly under the blankets, some days, it can be hard for me to get out of bed. Not that I'm against having a good lie-in now and again, but if I'm not careful, it can derail my whole day.

Keeping a daily routine for managing diabetes

Managing life with diabetes, for me, is a lot about maintaining a routine. These are the general parts of my daily routine:

• Getting to bed around the same time
• Taking my medications
• Eating my meals spaced out evenly throughout the day
• Setting aside time for reflection
• Getting my steps in

But that can all fall apart all too easily when I hit the snooze button, roll over, and go back to sleep for that extra half an hour. The rest of my day gets squeezed. It gets easy to say, "Oh well, I'll get to that later, tomorrow, or never."

Preventing diabetes routine disruptions

I can tolerate being derailed for a day or two once in a while. Reestablishing my daily diabetes routine doesn't feel impossible. But with more prolonged disruptions, I get concerned that I'll have trouble reestablishing my routine.

What do I do to avoid the slippery slope?

Plan proactively

As much as possible, I avoid figuring out how to respond in the moment. I think things out in advance as I'm planning ahead. I can check the weather report or notice that I have a day of back-to-back appointments scheduled. These are things I know can affect my ability to stay on track.

Working out these potential pitfalls in advance primes the pump, so to speak. When I notice my day going off track, I already have some ideas for responding quickly and smoothly.

For instance, when I decide it's too cold or wet to go outside for my walk, I have a backup activity already in mind. It could be stretch bands or a walk-in-place video. Or maybe I'll drive to the community center and use their indoor walking track. When I'm prepared with options it's easier to make a quick decision and change course smoothly.

Take small actions and prepare mentally

I also look for an action that is quick and easy and moves me toward staying on track. Often, it's a very small thing. Taking one small step is a lot less overwhelming than, say, reworking my whole day.

For example, when my alarm goes off on a chilly morning, and I feel that urge to hit snooze, instead, I turn on the light. While it's not the same as having sunlight streaming in my window, it's enough to signal my day is starting. I might lay in bed for a few more minutes, but I'm unlikely to close my eyes and go back to sleep. I'm more likely to turn my thoughts to my day ahead.

Celebrate and reinforce successes

Finally, I make sure to celebrate when I successfully stay on track. My favorite thing to do is give myself a high five. You know, like Tina Fey does in that animated GIF. And I say, "Yeah, baby" out loud.

This might seem silly, but this acknowledgment reinforces taking positive action and staying on track. Ultimately, it lightens my mood especially when it comes to managing my diabetes.

How to keep my routine on track

So, how do I keep myself from crawling back under the covers on a chilly morning? Once I get out of bed I take a couple of seconds to pull the sheets and blankets up. I still have to return to fully make the bed, but seeing my sheets and blankets smoothed and covering the mattress makes it less inviting. Pulling the blankets back so I can climb back in just feels like too much effort!

What actions have you worked out in advance to keep you on track with your diabetes care? Please share in the comments.