Habit No. 4 Think Win Win to manage your diabetes

We live our lives with other people: families, social groups, co-workers. Win Win is a mindset that says: We are all different. By valuing and respecting the ideas of others, my life will be more productive, rich, and rewarding.

Habits #1 - #3 help you master personal leadership. Win Win is the first habit of interpersonal leadership – building strong relationships with others by helping them succeed, too.

What does this have to do with managing diabetes? If you look again at the 7 self-care behaviors, you’ll see that each behavior benefits from the advice, ideas, or support of someone else.

For example partnering with a diabetes educator will help you acquire the knowledge and skills you need to master Problem Solving and other self-care behaviors. When you and your medical team review your blood glucose and AIC measures you can work together to adjust medication, diet and exercise, as necessary.

Thinking Win Win is just as important with your family and friends. Share your self-care goals with them, as well as your concerns and fears. They can help you problem solve, motivate you to reduce risks, and keep you to your commitments.

Win Win is about creating a positive energy of cooperation, which natrally leads to success in diabetes management, and every area of life.