Setting Goals

Why Is Goal-Setting Important?

When you have diabetes, you want to do the things that will help your blood sugar levels stay in your target range and make you feel better. This requires you to learn new habits and change some old ones. But where should you begin? What do you need to work on first? Learning to set goals by stating exactly what you plan to accomplish will help you do a better job of staying on your healthcare plan. Once you have set measurable goals, you will be able to see how well you have accomplished them. Achieving initial goals helps you feel better about yourself and gives you the confidence to set new and more challenging goals.

Here are some tips for setting goals:

State Your Goals so they focus on specific things to do. “Feel better” is a worthy goal, but it is too vague to help you make an actual change. “Test my blood sugar four times a day” is more specific. It tells you what to do every day to start feeling better.

Start Small And Take Gradual Steps.  Perhaps your goal for exercising is to walk a mile each day, but that may be too much right now. Start by walking a block, and then add a block or so each week. You will soon reach your goal.

Start With Something You Can Already Do.  Starting with an action you are sure you can accomplish will give you the confidence to add other goals and stay with your diabetes plan.

Be Realistic.  What makes sense for you? You don't have to be an athlete to become more active and fit. Tailor your goals to your own abilities and lifestyle.

Write Down Your Goals.  Sometimes it can be very helpful to write your goals down on paper. Click here for a form you can print out and use to record your goals.