One of the most important things in handling my blood sugars while living at college was to create routines. While I’m living at college I tried to eat breakfast at the same time before my classes every day, or tried to workout at the same times during the week, because my body gets used to it, and for me the routines created more stabilization in my numbers and less extreme highs and lows.
Try not to stress out
One major factor that can cause high blood sugar in diabetics is stress. Unfortunately, stress cannot always be controlled especially at college. Not only are there tests, homework deadlines, laundry, and friend drama to deal with. Living at college can make stressors worse because you don’t get many breaks from constant stress. Unlike going to local college, you can’t just go home for the day. I have noticed over the past three years of going away to college that my blood sugar tends to lower a lot more over the summer, simply because of less demands and stress to handle. Even though stress cannot always be helped, there are ways to cope and relax that will calm you down and lead to more stable blood sugars. A few of my favorite ways to de-stress are to drink a cup of tea, watch a Ted Talk and journal, or read a good book.
Find meals that work, and stick to them
One of the hardest parts about living at college is the food. The dining hall food is typically not good quality, and in my experience there are very little meat and protein options, which are important in my diet as a diabetic. Over the years I have found food options that work best for me, and I tend to eat a lot of food in my room or make my own meals over dining hall food. Consistency is key, especially in what you eat and I have found that the more I stick to the foods that work best with my body and blood sugar, the better I feel overall. Some of my favorites are chicken, salads, peanut butter, oatmeal, yogurt, and berries.
Get enough sleep
One of the most important, yet difficult, things that affects blood sugar is sleep. In college, this is often last on the priority list. I remember my freshman year I averaged about 4-6 hours a night... not the smartest choice. Lack of sleep is also proven to affect your decision-making skills and can cause more cravings for carbs and sugar and this can lead to poor food choices, which will also contribute to higher blood sugar levels. I also noticed that high and low blood sugar symptoms are a lot less severe when I have had a full night of sleep. Even though it can be difficult to get enough sleep in college, it is well worth it because a well rested person is a healthier one.
Accept that you are not perfect
Lastly, the most important thing in handling diabetes is accepting the fact that there will be bad days, and sometimes you cannot always control your blood sugar or your circumstances. No one is perfect, and this is definitely true in handling diabetes. Striving for perfection will always leave you disappointed. I have come to realize that there will be days where you just have to do the best you can possibly do, and that is enough.
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