Acceptance of diabetes and its related self-management principles is complex and involves a number of skills and tasks. Assessment of diabetes acceptance may aid in the identification of high-risk patients for whom interventions can be targeted. Mark Heyman, PhD, CDCES shares his experience and case studies related to working with people who are having difficulty with acceptance and diabetes

Jen Nash, CPsychol, AFBPsS, ClinPsyD, BSc discusses the psychological aspect of people who are struggling to implement weight loss advice. Dr. Nash will review skills that address the emotional and motivational barriers to implementing weight loss education, and participants will be equipped with strategies to approach weight change conversations.

The majority of adults engage with learning experiences to create change in their skills, behavior, knowledge or attitudes. When providing diabetes education, it is important to acknowledge what people with diabetes bring to a learning situation such as hopes and fears, motivations, and questions. By combining adult learning principles and skill-building strategies, healthcare professionals can more successfully help people with diabetes identify and address their needs and successfully manage their health.

Family support is a critical component of successful diabetes management. Make your job easier by learning how to help family members and the person with diabetes achieve optimum health and quality of life.