October is Health Literacy Month, which highlights the importance of understanding and using health information to make better choices. For people living with diabetes, health literacy can mean the difference between feeling uncertain and feeling confident about daily decisions. Each week this month, we are focusing on one of the four pillars of diabetes wellness. This first week is dedicated to mindset, because the way you think about diabetes shapes how you use information and how you manage your health.

Health literacy is not only about reading medical terms or remembering blood sugar targets. It is about building the skills and mindset to interpret information clearly and apply it in a way that fits your life. Many people feel overwhelmed by the amount of advice they receive from doctors, websites, and friends. A strong mindset makes it easier to sort through what is helpful, ask better questions, and apply knowledge with confidence. Starting Health Literacy Month with a focus on mindset reminds us that clarity and confidence in diabetes care always begin in the mind.

What Health Literacy Really Means for Diabetes

Health literacy in diabetes goes far beyond knowing which foods are high in sugar or which numbers are considered safe. It is about understanding how your body responds to choices and using that knowledge to guide your decisions. With strong health literacy, you can evaluate diabetes education resources, interpret nutrition labels, and apply advice from your healthcare team in ways that make sense for your lifestyle.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines health literacy as the ability to find, understand, and use information to make decisions. For people with diabetes, that means knowing how to use your blood sugar readings, meal plans, and treatment options to create daily habits that work for you. Instead of being controlled by the condition, health literacy helps you take control with confidence.

The Role of Mindset in Decoding Health Information

Mindset is the lens through which you see and apply health information. If you approach diabetes feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and defeated, you may ignore valuable advice or feel too discouraged to ask questions. If you approach it with curiosity, hope  and determination, you can filter through complicated messages and discover what is truly useful.

With a resilient mindset, you are more likely to seek clarification at appointments, compare different sources of advice, and commit to consistent self-care. Without the right mindset, even the best information may go unused. With the right mindset, information becomes action and action creates progress.

If you want to explore mindset in even more depth, you may enjoy our blog How a Safety-First Mindset Can Help Prevent Diabetes Complications. It explains how adopting a safety-first perspective can reduce risks and strengthen your confidence in managing diabetes. Together, both approaches show how powerful your mindset can be in protecting your health and creating long-term success.

How to Question, Interpret, and Apply Medical Advice

Medical terms can often feel overwhelming. Words like “glycemic index” or “A1C variability” can sound distant and technical. Health literacy helps you pause and ask what these mean for your daily life. Instead of nodding without understanding, you can translate this information into practical steps. For example, if your doctor tells you to eat more fiber, you might ask which foods provide fiber that you enjoy and how they can fit into your meals.

This process of questioning and applying makes you an active participant in your care. It also prevents the stress that comes from trying to follow advice that feels confusing or unrealistic.

Simple Mindset Habits to Build Diabetes Confidence

Small, consistent habits can help you build a mindset that supports both health literacy and blood sugar success:

Reflect daily: Spend a few minutes journaling about what worked well for your blood sugar and what challenges came up. This helps you see patterns clearly.

Ask questions: At every appointment, make it a goal to ask at least one question. This practice builds confidence and helps you understand advice more deeply.

Stay connected to positivity: Affirmations, encouraging podcasts, and supportive communities remind you that you are not alone in this journey.

These practices strengthen both your mindset and your ability to make decisions with clarity.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does mindset impact diabetes health literacy?

Mindset shapes how you use information. A confident mindset helps you interpret advice more clearly and apply it in a way that works for you.

Can journaling improve diabetes understanding?

Yes. Journaling allows you to reflect on your blood sugar patterns and better understand how food, stress, and activity affect your health.

What’s the first step to building diabetes confidence?

Start with curiosity. Instead of asking yourself what you are doing wrong, begin asking what you can learn and apply today.

Build Clarity and Confidence in Your Diabetes Journey

Health literacy is not about memorizing numbers or following every piece of advice you hear. It is about developing the mindset that allows you to use information with clarity and confidence. With this foundation, diabetes becomes less overwhelming and more manageable.

As you strengthen your mindset this Health Literacy Month, remember that clarity grows when you take small, consistent steps. Explore your daily patterns, ask thoughtful questions, and keep building your confidence.

When you are ready to go deeper, book a complimentary Diabetes Wellness Connection Call today. This is your chance to talk through your goals, identify challenges, and receive a clear path forward that fits your lifestyle and empowers you to thrive.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Cheryl
Dr. Ac., C.H., RDH
Dr. Holistic Studies, Dr. Acupuncture
Diabetes Wellness Strategist & Coach
Creator & CEO of Holistic Diabetes Solutions
8 X International Best-Selling Author

As a woman living with diabetes for over 30 years, Dr. Cheryl understands the journey firsthand. When she was diagnosed, she received the same outdated advice her grandmother was given for over four decades, who relied primarily on medication, suffered from deteriorating health and eventually lost her life to diabetes. Fueled by this experience, Dr. Cheryl was compelled to seek a better way. Through countless research studies and trials, she developed the winning holistic approach: the Diabetes Success System which merges traditional wisdom with today’s best holistic self-care practices.  It has revolutionized diabetes management by providing a trusted way to maintain consistent and predictable healthy blood sugar levels.

_______________________

PROFESSIONAL DISCLAIMER

The material and content contained in this platform is for overall general diabetes health and education information only. It is not intended to constitute medical advice or to be a substitution for professional medical recommendations, diagnosis or treatment. All specific medical questions or changes you make to your medication and/or lifestyle should be discussed and addressed with your primary healthcare provider. Having the right mindset, doing the right movements at the right times of day, and eating foods that help keep blood sugar, insulin, and inflammation manageable can dramatically reduce your risk of the all-too-common complications of Diabetes, increase your energy levels and have you feeling your best every day.