This month, we celebrate World Health Day, an annual event set up by the World Health Organisation to raise awareness of health issues worldwide.

One of the major public health concerns is Diabetes. Nearly half a billion people around the world are living with the disease. Locally, one in three individuals in Singapore is at risk of developing diabetes in their lifetime. If nothing is done, it is estimated that about one million Singaporeans will be living with diabetes by 2050.

Exercise regularly, eat healthily, and take medications consistently are familiar advice for managing diabetes. However, the high demands of work and the allure of convenience food and sugary drinks make sustaining healthy lifestyle practices daunting.

Many may concede that diabetes is “too difficult to control”, discouraging them from managing it. We found such behaviour exists among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D), the most common form of diabetes in Singapore.

According to our study Mindsets and Self-efficacy Beliefs among Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes, these individuals have a tendency to believe that they cannot easily change their blood glucose levels and have lower confidence in managing their health and blood glucose.

The study examined the impact of mindsets and self-efficacy beliefs on individuals with diabetes, based on an online survey of 893 Singapore-based individuals with and without T2D conditions.

Our findings suggested that besides coping with psychological barriers, individuals with diabetes may feel indifferent or discouraged towards managing their disease when initial endeavours fail to translate to expected health improvements.

So, what steps can be taken to help individuals cope with diabetes?

Support for individuals with early-stage diabetes

The emotional strain of being diagnosed with diabetes can be overwhelming. Using the ‘low hanging fruit’ approach by starting with an area of lifestyle change they’re most willing or able to tackle (for instance, doable reductions in rice intake) can show patients the impact of small changes and encourage them to continue making progress. Setting realistic expectations about lifestyle improvements is also helpful. Instead of expecting immediate results after short bursts of changes, patients may develop more resilience when they understand that progress takes time and consistent effort.

Reframing diabetes management

While setbacks may mark the course of an individual’s journey with diabetes, negative experiences are not signals of failure but stepping stones for improvement. Adopt a growth mindset by seeing challenges you face as opportunities to discover better strategies for managing your health. Experiment with simple, manageable adjustments (such as omitting just 2–3 sugary drinks each week and making further reductions whenever possible) to see how specific changes work for one’s body. Don’t be afraid to identify what went ‘wrong’ and be open-minded to try new approaches. Dialoguing with other patients can provide helpful tips on alternative strategies and offer the needed peer support.

Healthcare providers can be a voice of encouragement

Healthcare providers can serve as influential voices of support and guidance. They can promote a growth mindset among patients by making subtle changes to how they frame information—for instance, emphasising learning what works best for one’s body rather than focusing on blood glucose results and encouraging patients to view setbacks as opportunities to try again and try differently.

Hence, without precluding the importance of medication, regular exercise and a healthy diet, there is a need for effective interventions that cultivate a growth mindset and greater self-efficacy among individuals with diabetes. In doing so, we can leap forward in reshaping the narrative of diabetes management.

 By Carolyn Lo, Jared Ng and Leonard Lee. Leonard Lee is Professor of Marketing at NUS Business School. Leonard is also Director at the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk (IPUR). Carolyn is Research Fellow and Jared is Manager, Communications at IPUR. IPUR helps the public better understand risk issues in technology, environment and health.