March 2019
Diabetes Alertness

Diabetes Alert Day on March 26 th is a one-day event to encourage people to take a diabetes risk test. Type 2 diabetes is one of the most stressful chronic diseases a person can face, and its prevalence only continues to grow throughout the United States. 

Behavior change is needed for at-risk individuals to lead healthier lives. True behavior change is when patients make improved self-care decisions based upon a changed relationship with their health. Healthy Interactions’ philosophy and methodology is based on engaging individuals to take ownership of their health concerns.  
Please continue reading to learn more about creating better relationships for better outcomes.
Happy March Everyone
I believe that relationships are the foundation to everything we do in life, whether that be personal relationships, work relationships, or the relationship with ourselves and how we chose to live our lives everyday. 

I often get asked why Healthy Interactions’ programs are repeatedly and independently proven to be by far the most effective chronic patient education and engagement programs available. I repeatedly hear, “What is your secret sauce?” This is what I say: people who experience Healthy Interactions’ programs change their personal relationships with their health.  
Lists, reminders, and libraries of chronic care content do not change relationships. They may help organize behaviors, at least temporarily. But true behavior change when patients make improved self-care decisions is based upon a changed relationship people have with their health. There’s a significant difference. Instead of saying, “Because my CDE told me to,” people explain the importance of their decisions. It’s a fundamentally different and healthier relationship they adopt with their own health.  

As always, thank you for what you do to improve the lives of millions of people. Have a wonderful March!

Paul
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Thank you for checking out our March newsletter! 

It is estimated that 1 out of 3 people have prediabetes and that 90% of those people don’t know they have it. It’s not surprising because the beginning signs are most often not felt at all. Preventing type 2 diabetes begins with awareness of the risk factors associated with developing the disease and that’s why Diabetes Alert Day on March 26 th is so important.
Diabetes educators play a critical role in advocating for prevention and educating those with prediabetes.  

Thank you for all that you do in the fight to prevent the devastating complications of diabetes and for checking back in with us! 
This month, we are sharing an article by Moen D, Eichorst B. (2016, August): Addressing diabetes in family practice environment: Tools support sustainable behavior change. Accountable Care News, 7(8): 2, 5-6. 

The key points of this article relate to the use of the  Conversation Map ® tools in Village Family Practice, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). 

At the time of this publication, 300 patients have participated in Map sessions, with a total of 147 sessions; 95% of participants indicated a desire to attend additional sessions; glycemic control improved by 11%; the sample showed that the intervention group had an average reduction of more than 4x that of the control group. 
Patients who participated in  Conversation Map sessions reported high satisfaction levels. When asked what was most meaningful about the session, responses included: 

  • understanding my meds and tracking
  • relating to others’ opinions and comments
  • discussion about symptoms and experiences
  • signs of high/low blood glucose
  • learning about my insulin and educating myself
  • good information
  • goal setting
To read more about this study and others, click on the button below.
American Diabetes Association Diabetes Prevention Program DPP Express

Ask the Experts

Encourage your patients to ask questions of diabetes experts during ADA’s live Q&A event,  Medication Management for Diabetes and Heart Disease  on March 19 th . This series is part of Know Diabetes by Heart, a collaboration between American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association.

Learn more and register below
Education Recognition Program (ERP) DSMES Recognition Symposium

The ERP team is excited to announce that we will be hosting the Second Symposium of 2019 at our home office in Arlington, Virginia on Saturday, October 5 th , 2019. 

The one-day DSMES Symposium will guide attendees through how to establish and maintain a DSMES service that adheres to the 2017 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support. The program’s ultimate goal is to increase patient access to quality, evidence-based, and sustainable DSMES services.

Continuing Education Opportunity:
This symposium will accredit attendees with 7.25 CE credits.

When: Saturday, October 5, 2019 
Where: American Diabetes Association National Office, 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22202 
Fee: $150 Registration Fee 
ERP
Here are the top three ways to help encourage patients to participate more actively in the Conversation Map ® sessions.

"Everything becomes a little different as soon as it is spoken out loud."

~Hermann Hesse
Conversation Map sessions are all about dialogue among participants. The goal is to have 80% of the talking done by people with diabetes (PWD), and only 20% by the attending healthcare provider (HCP). The use of the Facilitator Guide helps the facilitator ask relevant questions at the proper time to promote engagement among participants.

However, if some participants don’t talk much, what can you do to help stimulate a response from somebody who doesn’t seem to be engaged in the conversation?
 
1. Ask non-diabetes-related questions first.
You can ask “how many grandchildren do you have?”, “What are your hobbies?”, or other questions that will not be perceived as testing their diabetes knowledge or judging them. Often questions related to diabetes might be perceived as a personal attack. Talk about something fun that will open an easy conversation and allow a PWD to open up in this group. Consequently, they will be more likely to contribute to other topics of discussion.
2. Allow for limited silences to occur. When you pause, a PWD can take a few seconds to organize their thoughts before responding. This silence will also give remaining participants time to respond collectively. Silence is an important element of effective conversation, a type of non-verbal behavior that can have a positive effect on the group dynamics. Your patients will appreciate the silence you provide, as it will give them time to think, respond, and relax a little.

3. Set expectations at the beginning of the session.
You can indicate that most of the talking today will be done by PWD’s, and note your role as the facilitator rather than the educator. The participants will be learning about diabetes by expressing what they know, and figuring out how to use that knowledge to create solutions to improve their daily life with diabetes.
 
 
In the end, not everyone in a session talks at the same pace and amount. Some people like to listen first, get comfortable, then open up later during the session. You can give them needed time and space to engage at their own pace. As a group facilitator, you can use your skills to promote a therapeutic conversation by being a role model and set the tone. The group culture will take shape from the dynamics of its participants. Some groups will be more talkative than others. No matter the amount of talking, the Map session is effective as long as everyone is engaged in their own way, learning from one another, having fun, and wanting to come back for the next session.
For any questions on how to maximize the impact of your  Conversation Map ® program, send us an email at: 

For any other questions please visit our website at the link below.
If you, or someone you know, may be interested in opportunities with Healthy Interactions, please click here for more information: