With summer in the air, it’s a perfect time to take a fresh approach to explore what activities people enjoy most and help them take that first step forward!
The majority of people with diabetes are aware that regular activity is integral to diabetes self-care and helps lower blood sugars for 24 -48 hours. However, getting started and maintaining momentum can be tough. With thoughtful coaching, we can support them to make progress toward the target of 150 minutes of walking (or other activity) a week coupled with strength training.
Coach Beverly has outlined five strategies that she has found helpful in encouraging people to move more.
Getting started with regular activity can seem daunting for many people. We can help lift that fear by encouraging them to start with baby steps and substitute the term “activity” for “exercise”. Reassuring people that “any movement is better than no movement” allows them to shift their perspective and give themselves credit for something as simple as walking to the mailbox.
The goal is to accumulate about thirty minutes of activity a day, so taking a 10-minute walk after breakfast means they are one-third of the way there. Other activities that count include; gardening, housework, yard work, shopping, chasing kids, and those dance moves people do when no one is looking.
Even the best-made plans to increase activity may go differently than envisioned. A person-centered collaborative approach can help people get moving, one step at a time. Anticipating setbacks helps create realistic expectations and PLAN strategies to get restarted. As diabetes specialists, we can prepare people for obstacles and remind them that a falter does not equal failure. According to Sylvia Gonsahn Bollie, MD, assisting individuals in preparing for barriers with a PLAN helps toward a quicker recovery.
In addition to having a PLAN, encourage people to avoid black-and-white thinking, like, “Well, I missed my planned workout, so I might as well just give up.”
Suggest a reframe of the internal messaging and instead say, “I missed my planned workout today, and that is okay. I will get back on track starting tomorrow.”
Supporting gentle, nonjudgmental, self-compassionate coaching can help people feel better about their efforts and increase their success with behavior change goals.
These simple sentences capture people’s attention and help them take that first step toward more movement. Please feel free to borrow and use these sayings in your practice!
Regular physical activity can help prevent disease and improve well-being. Although less than 50% of people are reaching the activity goals, improvement is possible. As health advocates, we can encourage systemic changes in health care and environmental changes in our neighborhoods to increase population activity.
Cheat Sheet compliments of www.DiabetesEd.net
Starting and keeping new habits is challenging. By integrating activity into everyday life, people are likelier to keep it up. If the movement brings them joy, that is an added benefit. An excellent starting strategy is asking them what activities they like. Then explore if they can add it to their typical day. For example, taking a walk during a lunch break or hitting the gym before heading home. What about lifting weights with the kids or helping with after-dinner cleanup instead of relaxing in that favorite comfy chair? Joining an organized sport or dance class is also an option.
This two-session training provides the essential steps to address diabetes distress combined with an innovative approach to helping people make sense of their glucose data.
The first session is team-taught by experts in the field of diabetes distress and effective communication approaches. Dr. Larry Fisher kicks off the program by describing the difference between depression and distress and interpreting Diabetes Distress screening results. Dr. Susan Guzman uses a case study approach and step-by-step communication strategies to address responses from the Diabetes Distress screening tool. This session includes an abundance of evidence-based approaches that you can apply in your clinical setting.
Coach Beverly leads the second session. During this three-hour program, Beverly describes insulin dosing strategies, meter and sensor data interpretation, and common issues encountered by people using diabetes technology. Case studies include tools to help individuals discover what changes are needed to get glucose to target, coupled with the communication skills discussed in the first session. In conclusion, the team of instructors review a case study that pulls together all the ReVive 5 elements.
Can’t join live? That’s okay. Your registration guarantees you access to the recorded version of the series, along with podcasts and resources for one full year.
Accredited Training Program:
Team of Experts:
ReVive 5 is taught by a team of 3 Interdisciplinary Experts:
Accreditation: Diabetes Education Services is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider 12640, and our CPEU courses have received Prior Approval* from the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR), Provider DI002. Since our CPEU courses received Prior approval* from the CDR, these CPEU courses satisfy the CE requirements for the CDCES /BC-ADM regardless of your profession!
The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the certification exam. CBDCE and ADCES do not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES or BC-ADM exams, except for those published by CBDCE & ADCES.
Diabetes Education Services offers education and training to diabetes educators in the areas of both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes for the novice to the established professional. Whether you are training to be a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), practicing at an advanced level and interested in board certification, or a health care professional and/or Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) who needs continuing education hours to renew your license or CDCES, we have diabetes education information, resources and training; learning and teaching tools; and diabetes online courses available for continuing education (CE). Read our disclaimer for full disclosure.