fall 2011 Newsletter Header
Greetings!
 
And so November, which is National Diabetes Awareness month, draws to a close.  But hopefully, you will continue the focus through December and into the New Year.

As you know, good metabolic control (blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose) dramatically reduces your risk of long-term diabetes complications.  But sadly, despite the many medications and technologies now available, only a small minority (13%) of the 26 million Americans living with diabetes has reached the ADA-recommended goals for good metabolic control.  But why? 

 

Managing diabetes day after day remains a challenge, and many barriers can get in the way. BDI strives to help people identify their personal obstacles and develop achievable plans to overcome them.  Our goal is to help people live long and healthy lives with diabetes.  Key strategies developed by BDI are included in the articles below.  

 

What a difference it can make when you feel in control of your diabetes, rather than letting diabetes control you!  And we hope we can help you reach that goal in the months to follow.   

 

Best Wishes,

The Behavioral Diabetes Institute

In This Issue
What's Your Answer?
Sharing and Celebrating Strengths
Psyching Out Diabetes - TEDx Del Mar
Professional Spotlight- The Emotional Side of Diabetes in Action
What's Your Answer?

doctot patient reviewing resultsWe are working on new tools to address the emotional and behavioral obstacles to living well with diabetes faced by many.  Would you share your personal experience with us by answering the following question:

 

"What's the one thing you wish your doctor had told you when you first learned you had diabetes?"
 
Sharing and Celebrating Strengths
WFW GraphicIn October, BDI partnered with fellow non-profit, DiabetesSisters, to create a unique opportunity for women with diabetes. Our two organizations merged our individual events for women to offer a "Weekend for Women Conference 2011: A Celebration of Strength".
 
Woven throughout this educational and inspirational event were messages that acknowledge the difficulties of living with diabetes, tips to make it more manageable, and encouragement for doing the best you can.
 
The upbeat Celebration of Strength dinner honored women (with all types of diabetes) for the strengths they demonstrate every day in living with diabetes. Speakers challenged and motivated the women to act in the fight against diabetes in their community and fight to manage it in their personal situations.

 

Messages women found valuable at the conference were compiled. We believe everyone living with diabetes can benefit from these messages of recognition and hope and want to share them with you. 

 

Click here for living well resources from the conference.

Psyching Out Diabetes - TEDx Del Mar

The theme for the TEDx Del Mar event was "Search for a Cure".  Twenty researchers and clinicians outlined their research and real-life experiences into 18 minute talks to spread the essentials to others involved in the search. 

 

BDI's own Dr. Polonsky presented on the emotional and behavioral issues involved in managing diabetes and outlined our understanding of the approaches used by people who live well with diabetes.  

 

Click here and scroll down to read a recap of Dr. Polonsky's talk.

Professional Spotlight

The

Emotional Side of Diabetes in Action 

 
Chris Sadler, MA, PA-C, CDE is the president of the American Society of Endocrine Physician Assistants.  Highly regarded by both professionals and patients, he specializes in intensive insulin therapy and management of type 2 diabetes.

 

Chris says "Acknowledging to my patients that I know how difficult diabetes is to manage and congratulating them for all they are doing to control the disease is pivotal to some office visits."

 

"I'm constantly surprised how many patients become tearful during these times, because it's often the first time someone has acknowledged all their effort.  Many patients are trying so hard and were prepared for a scolding, as they already feel they could have and should have done better."

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