Having strong social support is one of the armors that should be found in your arsenal especially if you are on a journey to get or stay healthy.
This social support can be a network of people who provide practical and emotional support for an individual–or patient. They include parents/guardians, siblings, spouses, other family members, professional colleagues, counselors, mentors, and sponsors, etc. Joining a network of persons living with similar medical conditions is also another opportunity to create social support.
The place of social support cannot be overemphasized. It is a buffer against anxiety, stress, depression. It can even help pull you out of a bad habit. They determine what you eat and how much you exercise.
For persons living with chronic diseases like hypertension and type 2 diabetes, having strong social support that knows about your health journey and medical requirements is very important to improve clinical, psychological, and behavioral health outcomes. Evidence has linked social support to improved blood sugar control, decreased mortality, and increased mental stability among persons with type 2 diabetes.
Given that different people make up a social support system, it is important to note that each person in a social support system may offer a different type of support from the other persons. However, their contributions always complement each other.
The most important step in creating a strong social support network or system is to inform people you love and trust about your health condition. Also, share the difficulties you are experiencing and ask for their support to overcome these challenges. Viedial has also created a community of persons who are interested in improving their diet and physical activity habits. Join this group through this link.
