| Diabetes is now classified as a worldwide | | | | that stress packs a powerful double punch for |
| epidemic. Blindness, kidney disease, | | | | parents of children with diabetes. This is |
| impotence and many other illnesses are often | | | | because first, the parent is stressed out |
| the direct result of out-of-control or | | | | caring for an ill child and second, the child |
| undiagnosed diabetes. | | | | has overwhelming stress because they are not |
| | | | as equipped as an adult to deal with the |
| Fortunately, there are several ways hypnosis | | | | enormous responsibility of successfully |
| can help. See which one of the following | | | | managing their disease. The parent must |
| statements applies to you or someone you | | | | also then have to deal with their child's |
| know. (1) As a person with diabetes, do you | | | | stress. This double-whammy makes it very |
| ever feel stressed? (2) Are you the parent of | | | | difficult to achieve the kind of precise care |
| a child with diabetes? (3) Do you wish that | | | | that is needed for good child diabetes |
| you, your child or spouse were more motivated | | | | management. |
| to exercise? (4) Wouldn't it be great if it | | | | |
| were easier to make better food choices? (5) | | | | In statement three, the fundamental issue is |
| Is your diabetes causing embarrassing, | | | | exercise. Since 95% of all persons with |
| personal problems? | | | | diabetes have Type 2 and since 90% of all |
| | | | those persons are obese, the implications for |
| Now, since a hypnotist is by definition, a | | | | enhanced exercise motivation are all too |
| stress management consultant and a | | | | clear. For example, it is well documented |
| motivational coach, all of the above | | | | that many Type 2 diabetics have had complete |
| challenges can be powerfully addressed by | | | | symptom remission after achieving a |
| using hypnosis but please note the following: | | | | significant reduction in weight typically due |
| a hypnotist is only part of your diabetes | | | | to exercise and diet improvement. |
| support team. Always be sure to have your | | | | Additionally, exercise greatly contributes to |
| doctor's approval before beginning any | | | | one's sense of well being and this therefore |
| hypnosis program that can have any influence | | | | becomes a positive motivational cycle. |
| on your medical condition. | | | | |
| | | | Statement four addresses a concern that many |
| The primary method by which hypnosis helps a | | | | people have, not just those with diabetes. |
| person with diabetes is by reducing harmful | | | | "I wish I could just eat better!" is a |
| stress. There are two fundamental ways in | | | | familiar refrain. Again, as a hypnotist |
| which stress negatively affects a person with | | | | helps a person to reduce their feelings of |
| diabetes: (1) Stress robs a person of | | | | stress, they can then help that person to |
| necessary personal power that is crucial in | | | | strengthen their inner commitment to making |
| giving a person the emotional ability to make | | | | better food choices. Please note that even a |
| choices that benefit their health and well | | | | small reduction in a diabetic's long term |
| being. (2) As a diabetic's stress levels | | | | blood sugar tremendously reduces their |
| increase, so does their blood sugar. This is | | | | chances of having serious complications later |
| due to the 'fight-or-flight' response that | | | | on. |
| people experience as a result of negative | | | | |
| stress. When a person enters this state of | | | | Statement five refers to conditions that are |
| mind, their body releases chemicals known as | | | | difficult for most people to talk about. For |
| 'insulin-antagonists'. These chemicals | | | | brevity's sake this discussion is limited to |
| temporarily block the action of insulin while | | | | one very common embarrassing problem: |
| simultaneously causing the release of stored | | | | impotence. Nearly 60% of all males with |
| sugar in the liver and muscles. | | | | diabetes experience impotence. There are |
| | | | two concerns here: (1) There is a good |
| With the above understanding about the two | | | | chance that these people and their partners |
| ways that stress affects a person with | | | | are feeling a great deal of unnecessary and |
| diabetes, let's see how that information, | | | | harmful stress. (2) A male diabetic may |
| specifically point one (as point two is | | | | choose to take a medication for impotence |
| self-explanatory), then applies to the five | | | | when that medication is inappropriate and |
| problems listed in the second paragraph. | | | | quite possibly harmful. This concern is also |
| | | | relevant to those millions of men with |
| Regarding statement one it is obvious to | | | | undiagnosed diabetes. |
| anyone with diabetes that having that disease | | | | |
| is very stressful. This harmful state of | | | | In conclusion, a hypnotist can be an |
| emotional affairs then makes it more | | | | important part of a diabetic's health care |
| difficult for a diabetic to follow their | | | | team because a person can be responsibly |
| doctor's recommendations. Also, when a | | | | coached by a properly trained hypnotist to |
| person is in emotional pain, they usually | | | | more effectively deal with the above |
| reach for whatever makes them immediately | | | | mentioned issues. |
| feel better. This can be any addiction, | | | | |
| though it is usually food and typically too | | | | Devin Hastings |
| much and not the kind that is good for a | | | | |
| person with diabetes. | | | | "Speak gently to yourself because your deep |
| | | | mind is always listening. |
| Looking at statement two, it can be noted | | | | |