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Q: What do you see as the most common misconceptions healthcare professionals have about people who don’t engage effectively with diabetes self-management behaviors?
A: The most common misconceptions are that people who don’t engage with diabetes management are unmotivated, not scared enough, and don’t care about their health.
We asked our favorite diabetes psychologist, Susan Guzman, PhD, to share her insights on how to engage most effectively when providing care to people with diabetes. Keep reading for more expert insights.
Q: How do these misconceptions lead to further problems for people with diabetes and further frustrations for the HCPs?
A: Not understanding the actual barriers to effective engagement leads to responses that don’t help. If you think someone is unmotivated, you might encourage someone to try harder or offer advice that doesn’t meet the person’s needs. If you think someone isn’t taking action because they must not be scared enough, you might try to warn them of all the terrible complications that could happen if they don’t make changes. If you believe someone doesn’t engage with diabetes self-management because they don’t care about their health, you may stop suggesting changes thinking they won’t do it anyway.
Because these are misconceptions, these corresponding tactics are ineffective, often leading people to feel more disengaged and misunderstood, immobilized with fear and hopelessness. In turn, HCPs too can end up feeling more frustrated and hopeless about helping patients reach treatment targets.
Q: What are some of the actual reasons people may not engage with diabetes self-management?
A: There are many common barriers that can result in someone seeing that needed changes as not worth the effort required or seem unachievable. When you begin to see the “good reasons” for people feeling disengaged from diabetes care, you can start to spot solutions that better fit the problem. For example, someone might actually feel doomed (scary complications and early death are unavoidable) and are hopeless that their efforts will have a positive impact. Instead of a scary lecture, this person could really benefit from some “evidence-based hope”, learning that there is good evidence that with targeted effort as a team to reach target, it is possible to have a long and healthy life with diabetes.
Q: Are there quick ways to identify these common barriers to effective diabetes management and brief interventions to help?
A: Yes! There are simple evidence-based ways to identify common behavioral obstacles and address them in routine clinical care. In our one-day workshop, “Engaging the Disengaged: Innovative Strategies for Behavior Change in Diabetes” we will help participants gain confidence in using these tools, having more productive conversations and collaborating with patients in generating more engaging and effective treatment plans.
Q: Are there any upcoming trainings available to explore these techniques and strategies?
A: Yes! Dr. William Polonsky and myself are facilitating a 6-hour conference in San Diego designed to bring these concepts life. This course isn’t a lecture — it’s an immersive, skills-building experience. Using a collaborative, person-centered approach, participants will practice real communication strategies that enhance motivation, build patient confidence, and make self-management feel doable. From diabetes distress to action planning to long-term adherence, every skill you gain is immediately applicable in your practice.
Sign-up today, since we are limiting enrollment to 50 people!
Dr. Susan Guzman is a clinical psychologist specializing in diabetes. In 2003, Dr. Guzman co-founded the Behavioral Diabetes Institute (BDI), the first non-profit organization devoted to the emotional and behavioral aspects of living with diabetes.
At BDI, she serves as the Director of Clinical Education, developing and leading programs for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals. She has helped develop and facilitate diabetes distress group interventions for two NIH-funded research studies for adults with type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Guzman is passionate about helping to change the conversations in diabetes away from shame, blame, and judgment to those based on facts, empathy, and engagement. She has been part of a joint ADA/ADCES effort to address problematic language and messages in diabetes.
Dr. William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDCES
In addition to being the Co-Founder of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute, Dr. Polonsky is Associate Clinical Professor in Medicine at the University of California San Diego.
A licensed clinical psychologist, certified diabetes care and educational specialist (CDCES), and highly-cited research scientist with more than 150 peer-reviewed publications in the field of behavioral diabetes.
His most recent research projects have focused on quality of life in diabetes, diabetes-related distress, hypoglycemic fear, glucose monitoring behavior and attitudes in people living with diabetes, group-based behavior change programs, the influence of continuous glucose monitoring on quality of life, and the development of new methods for enhancing diabetes education. In addition, he continues to maintain a small clinical practice where he works with his patients to help alleviate the stresses, strains and aggravations of living with diabetes.
Of note, he has authored several books for the lay audience (e.g., Diabetes Burnout: What to Do When You Can’t Take it Anymore) and co-edited several others for health care professionals (e.g., A CORE Curriculum for Diabetes Education).
Have you ever left a medical appointment thinking, “I wish I had asked that question,” or “I wish someone really understood what this feels like”?
Managing type 2 diabetes is not just about numbers. It is about decisions. Emotions. Responsibilities. Fatigue. Food. Family. And sometimes feeling like you are carrying all of it alone.
That is why Coach Beverly and DiabetesSisters are proud to launch a new chapter in diabetes support on the West Coast!
Coach Beverly has been a nurse for 40 years and a diabetes specialist for 30. For two decades, she led a hospital-based diabetes support group that became a trusted space for women to gather, learn, and feel understood.
Now, she is bringing that experience to a new West Coast Type 2 Diabetes Support Group with DiabetesSisters.
What drew her to diabetes care was not only the science but the opportunity to make a difference in how women experience living with this condition.
She noticed that many conversations focused on what was not working. Very few recognized the daily effort required to manage a condition no one asked for.
She believes women deserve more than instruction. They deserve encouragement.
As she often reminds participants:
You are already doing more than you think.
This new diabetes support program on the West Coast is built around something simple and powerful: connection.
When women gather in Coach Beverly’s group, they talk about the realities of living with type 2 diabetes, including:
One woman shares something she has never said out loud. Another nods in recognition. And just like that, isolation begins to soften.
Peer support has been shown to strengthen confidence and encourage meaningful behavior change. Our 2024 survey data show that 90 percent of participants felt confident making behavioral changes, and 88 percent felt confident taking steps to support their diabetes management.
But beyond the numbers, there is something deeply human about being seen.
As one participant shared: “I feel so much more connected and less alone in my diabetes journey through the monthly meetings. DiabetesSisters is an amazing resource and community.”
That is the experience this new West Coast program is creating.
Because this is a new program on the West Coast, you have the opportunity to join from the very beginning.
At your first session, you can expect:
At the end of each meeting, you may choose one small, realistic commitment to focus on before the next session. Not a complete life overhaul. Just one doable step.
This is not about perfection. It is about progress. It is about living well while managing diabetes.
If you are a healthcare professional, this new diabetes support program on the West Coast offers an additional layer of care for women living with diabetes.
Diabetes management does not end in the exam room. Women benefit from structured peer support that addresses emotional health, daily decision-making, and lived experience.
Coach Beverly’s group complements clinical care and reinforces self-management behaviors. We welcome referrals for women living with type 2 diabetes who may benefit from additional support.
If you are living with type 2 diabetes and wondering whether this new group is for you, Coach Beverly has a simple invitation:
Come once.
And there is a seat waiting for you.
Join national experts including Dr. Diana Isaacs (Cleveland Clinic), Beverly Thomassian (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig for high-impact, virtual learning—no travel required.
✔ Learn from National Experts — Anywhere
Get the same expert-level instruction you’d receive in person, delivered live to your home or office.
✔ Interactive & Flexible
Walk away with tools you can apply immediately in clinical practice or while preparing for CDCES or BC-ADM exams. From insulin dosing protocols to behavior change strategies that work in the real world—this content bridges theory & practice.
Featured Articles & Announcements ___________________________ |
Webinars & Programs
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March is National Nutrition Month, and I love the core of this year’s theme, “Discover the Power of Nutrition.” Nutrition does have the power to help individuals and communities thrive, especially our cherished community of people with prediabetes and diabetes.
This month, we recognize the impact that nutrition and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) make on people’s lives. All of us have been asked, “Just tell me what I can eat.” We share the basics with our clients and then refer them to our trusted and knowledgeable RDN colleagues, who expertly guide them through medical nutrition therapy and create customized meal plans that encourage folks to “maintain the pleasure of eating”.
In our first article, Christine Craig, MS, RDN, CDCES, explores the role and real impact of RDNs in a variety of settings. Ms. Craig also recognizes that we need to keep inviting people with diabetes to meet with dietitians, as MNT can lower A1C levels by 0.3 – 2%.
Explore our Carb Counting Made Easy Resource Page, featuring handouts, links, and our most frequently requested resources.
Coach Bev provides straightforward strategies (and a New Worksheet) that outline the steps to provide judgment-free coaching to the people in your care. Please, share this worksheet with your colleagues and let us know what you think!
Have you had people with diabetes ask you if those glucose watches really work? Me too! Dr. Beattie discusses which devices are approved for glucose sensing and which are not.
Diabetes Sisters and Coach Bev have teamed up to offer a virtual support group on the West Coast. Thank you in advance for sharing this resource with your clients.
Test your knowledge with a quiz that boldly broaches the topic of Pancreatic Parasites.
Lastly, we heard you! We moved up the dates of our CDCES and BC-ADM Bundles, so you have more time to prepare for exam success.
Celebrating the power of nutrition and RDNs!
Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Astraea & Katarina
Get exam-ready with confidence.
Course credits through AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR!
Full accreditation details are available on the registration page
Our CDCES Boot Camp Online Prep Bundle is a comprehensive, high-impact program built specifically for healthcare professionals preparing for the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam who want to level up their clinical knowledge and skills.
This evidence-based study bundle is a comprehensive BC-ADM Boot Camp designed for advanced-level healthcare professionals preparing for the Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM) exam and will also provide you with state-of-the-art information to level up your clinical practice.
Join national experts including Dr. Diana Isaacs (Cleveland Clinic), Beverly Thomassian (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig for high-impact, virtual learning—no travel required.
✔ Learn from National Experts — Anywhere
Get the same expert-level instruction you’d receive in person, delivered live to your home or office.
✔ Interactive & Flexible
Walk away with tools you can apply immediately in clinical practice or while preparing for CDCES or BC-ADM exams. From insulin dosing protocols to behavior change strategies that work in the real world—this content bridges theory and practice.
Enjoy this poem by Coach Bev that summarizes steps to achieve diabetes certification success in 53 seconds!
Get Ready for Diabetes Certification Success
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We know you’re excited to take your certification exam — and we want you to walk in feeling confident, calm, and completely prepared. 🖥️ To make sure you have the content you need, we have moved up the dates for our Level 3 and Level 4 live courses by a few months. We will complete Level 3 live course updates by April 30th and Level 4 updates will wrap up by June 20th. 📆Download Boot Camp flyers for complete date listings. |
We are always keeping you in mind! All of our accredited content is person-focused and evidence-based. Plus, we make sure you have fun and feel engaged during our programs. |
To prepare for your CDCES, we recommend enrolling in our CDCES Boot Camp, which includes:
✔ Level 1 – Fundamentals (2026) Recorded and ready for immediate viewing. Build your foundation and master the core concepts.
✔ Level 2 – ADA Standards Intensive 2026. Live throughout February and March. We break down the Standards of Care so they actually make sense — and stick.
✔ Level 3 – Final Exam Prep Mastery. Originally scheduled for June… but you told us that was too late. We heard you.
Level 3 now begins in March and runs through April 30th — giving you earlier access to focused exam mastery and test-taking strategy.
⬇️Download CDCES Boot Camp Flyer with New 2026 Dates!
This is your CDCES step-by-step path: Level 1 → Level 2 → Level 3. From fundamentals to final confidence 🏆.
To prepare for your BC-ADM, we recommend enrolling in our BC-ADM Boot Camp, which includes:
✔ Level 2 – ADA Standards Intensive 2026.
✔ Level 3 – Final Exam Prep Mastery. Begins in March and runs through April 30th.
✔ Level 4 – Final Exam Prep Mastery. Begins in April and runs through June 20th.
⬇️ Download BC-ADM Boot Camp Flyer with New 2026 Dates
This is your BC-ADM step-by-step path: Level 2 → Level 3 → Level 4. From Standards to advanced to final confidence 🏆.
You are the reason that diabetes care gets better.
We appreciate your hard work, advocacy, and the care you give every day!
💜Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Astraea, and Katarina
Get exam-ready with confidence.
Course credits through AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR!
Full accreditation details are available on the registration page
Our CDCES Boot Camp Online Prep Bundle is a comprehensive, high-impact program built specifically for healthcare professionals preparing for the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam who want to level up their clinical knowledge and skills.
This evidence-based study bundle is a comprehensive BC-ADM Boot Camp designed for advanced-level healthcare professionals preparing for the Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM) exam and will also provide you with state-of-the-art information to level up your clinical practice.
Join national experts including Dr. Diana Isaacs (Cleveland Clinic), Beverly Thomassian (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig for high-impact, virtual learning—no travel required.
✔ Learn from National Experts — Anywhere
Get the same expert-level instruction you’d receive in person, delivered live to your home or office.
✔ Interactive & Flexible
Walk away with tools you can apply immediately in clinical practice or while preparing for CDCES or BC-ADM exams. From insulin dosing protocols to behavior change strategies that work in the real world—this content bridges theory and practice.
Announcements
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Healing through Connection for Healthcare Professionals is available in:
Like me, I am sure you have experienced moments of intense frustration when you wanted to scream or give up!
Maybe you had to show up when you were emotionally spent and felt like you had nothing else to give.
I see you and I celebrate you—the hardworking healthcare professional who shows up day after day with heart and courage. In my book, Healing through Connection, I honor your journey and share strategies to help you care for your own well-being as you care for others.
Join a Virtual Conversation and Interview with Coach Bev on Feb 20th at 11:30am PST to delve into the healing power of creative endeavors.
If you can’t make the interview, enjoy this excerpt from Chapter 6, that dives into the Healing Power of Self-Expression and encourages you to dive into your creativity for healing, rejuvenation, and pure JOY.
Even if you can only commit to engaging creativity for a few minutes or half an hour a week, it makes a difference. Stop thinking about all the reasons you can’t do it, and instead, listen to that internal hum, get in the metaphorical car, turn on the ignition, and drive.
Within you lives a quiet, creative spark waiting for attention and care. When you tend to it, you renew your capacity to show up with presence, compassion, and strength, for yourself and for those in your care.
Healing through Connection is both a reminder and a roadmap; an invitation to care for yourself with the same compassion you offer others. It provides a rare perspective on mutual healing.
As we heal ourselves, we expand our capacity to help others with healing. Within the pages of this book, you’ll find a toolbox for exploring your truth, tapping into your emotions, and cultivating creativity. Together, we’ll explore the often-overlooked connection between your own lived experiences and those of the individuals in your care.
Continue reading to discover how making time for creative expression might offer you some unexpected benefits and opportunities for joy!
Did you know that Nobel Prize recipients are nearly three times more likely to engage in creative hobbies than their scientific counterparts?
Theoretical physicist Albert Einstein often played the violin when he encountered challenges in his theoretical work. He believed that music helped him think creatively and tap into his subconscious, enabling breakthroughs such as the theory of relativity.
Marie Curie, a two-time Nobel laureate for physics in 1903 and chemistry in 1911, went for frequent walks in the countryside, which allowed her to reflect and rejuvenate. These moments of tranquility likely helped her maintain focus during the grueling work of isolating radioactive elements.
It’s because they’re simply more open to having hobbies. They are more open to novel experiences and often turn to their creative endeavors when working through challenges. These seemingly unrelated scientific pursuits and personal hobbies can open doors for scientists to crosspollinate ideas across different fields, enabling them to gain fresh perspectives and uncover new insights.
Now, you may not be working toward securing the title of a Nobel laureate. Still, you might be interested in learning the secrets of expanding your mind, creating new connections, and better integrating the two sides of your brain hemispheres to provide better care or nurture your inner life.
You may be wondering how having an artistic hobby or winning a Nobel Prize in science relates to excelling as a diabetes specialist or healthcare professional. As a healthcare professional, you have likely lived through difficult experiences or witnessed profound suffering firsthand.
Plenty of science supports the idea that engaging in creative pursuits offers an outlet to express complex emotions that are not accessible through words alone.
The act of playing an instrument, taking an art class, exploring nature, or playing the bongo drums may provide a gateway to address unrequited trauma or pain, helping you to become more fully aware and present with your feelings. Did you have a childhood or adult hobby you loved doing? One that made you lose track of time as you entered the zone referred to as “flow”? Have you given yourself permission to make time for that hobby and lose yourself in that creative process?
You may want to take a ceramics or writing class, join the local choir, or start a band. Perhaps you found an old camera and want to learn more about photography or realized you’re good at painting. It can be hard to start as a beginner and potentially look silly or unskilled.
Here’s my advice: Let go of those sky-high expectations. No one expects you to paint like Monet in your first art class.
My motto is, if something makes me uncomfortable, I know I’m in the right place—because that’s where growth happens.
I encourage you to take that leap of faith and tolerate the momentary discomfort for long-term gain. It gets better, and before you know it, you will blossom in ways you never expected.
Download this worksheet to explore 20 creative endeavors that may spark inspiration within you. You may already be practicing some of these—or perhaps you have new ideas to add. Wonderful—keep going!
As a dance teacher for the past twenty years who can still balance a sword on her head, I am reminded every day that it is never too late to rediscover your joy.
Coach Beverly is honored to invite you to this special gathering and intimate conversation. During this virtual book launch, a special guest interviewer will join Coach Bev for a heartfelt conversation about why this book matters now and the real stories from clinical practice that inspired it.
Coach Bev will also share the personal journey of writing Healing through Connection and how she discovered her voice along the way. We will conclude with an interactive question-and-answer session and allow time for connection.
Come celebrate connection, healing, and the power of story as we honor the shared human experience at the heart of healthcare.
Thank you for YOUR support and commitment to promoting healing and connection every day!
Several years ago, I was nominated for Diabetes Educator of the Year. Being put forward by colleagues I deeply respected and admired was profoundly meaningful—and, honestly, a little overwhelming.
The nomination felt like recognition of decades of clinical work, teaching, mentoring, and advocacy for person-centered diabetes care. After submitting the detailed application, I allowed myself to feel hopeful. I imagined sharing my philosophy of judgment-free diabetes care with audiences across the country, offering a message of healing for both healthcare professionals and the people they serve. I even choreographed my walk-up dance in my head, ready to hit the ground running.
Then the email arrived from the board: I hadn’t been selected.
I won’t pretend it didn’t sting. I was devastated. Awards matter because they symbolize recognition; they affirm that your voice has value. When I wasn’t chosen, I found myself sitting with a familiar response that many healthcare professionals have experienced: a complicated mix of disappointment, sharp self-doubt, and the well-worn instinct to minimize the hurt and simply move on.
But once the initial ache softened, something important came into focus. I realized that while awards can amplify a message and provide a platform for it, they are not the source of the message itself. And my message was still burning—undiminished—inside me.
For years, I had been witnessing something under the surface of diabetes care and, more broadly, of healthcare. Earnest and compassionate clinicians were giving their all to provide the best care, but felt they weren’t breaking through or reaching people in ways that led to significant change. Many were questioning their worth, their effectiveness, and even their decision to enter healthcare at all.
I heard it in hallway conferences. In mentoring meetings. In calm moments after lectures when someone would come up to me and say, “I thought it was just me.”
I knew then that the story I was burning to share couldn’t be reduced to a title or an award category. The message I was holding wasn’t just about diabetes education and achieving an A1C of less than 7%. It was about the emotional gift of caring—and the healing strength of connection.
Not winning that award forced a reckoning moment: How could I share my message on a bigger stage?
The answer surprised me with its clarity. Write a book.
I wrote Healing through Connection for Healthcare Professionals because this story matters, award or no award.
The lived experiences and emotional well-being of healthcare professionals matter. You can make a bigger impact in the care you provide by taking inventory of your inner dialogue and beliefs.
Working with people living with diabetes can be filled with connection, joy, and revitalization. By leaving judgment at the door and accepting each other as we are – messy, complicated, and beautiful- you can deepen your connection. The unvoiced grief, the unresolved trauma, the silent resilience, can all have a voice at the table. As a healthcare professional, you deserve healing too.
Not winning hasn’t stopped me from sharing my message; it motivated me to find a different way to share it.
It pushed me to write honestly about:
This book is not a rebuttal to an award committee.
It’s a love letter to healthcare professionals who keep showing up even when recognition is scarce.
Today, when a nurse, pharmacist, dietitian, or physician tells me, “This book made me feel less alone,” I know I chose the right path.
I didn’t win an award, but I found my voice and shared my authentic life story in my book. This book is my commitment transparency with the hopes that it gives you permission to share your truth.
I wrote Healing through Connection so that other healthcare professionals can share their story and create a healing space for themselves and the people in their care.
Because in the end, the greatest legacy is knowing that your message touched the lives of your community and created space for more compassion, for us and those in our care.
Featured Articles & Announcements ___________________________ |
Webinars & Programs
___________________________
Greetings, healthcare colleagues!
As healthcare professionals, we’re often invited into the most tender moments of people’s lives. In these moments, you may notice your heart swell with compassion, sorrow, or deep gratitude. While this emotional labor is rarely acknowledged, I want you to know: I see it. I hear it.
We recognize the love and care you give each day. Whether it’s an after-hours check-in, helping with food access, volunteering at a community event, or offering a much-needed hug.
This February, let’s take a moment to honor you and the quiet heroism of showing up again and again with an open heart.
In this newsletter issue, I share how not being selected for a diabetes educator award led me to a deeper realization and lit a fire to share my message by writing a book.
We also highlight the power of professional connections and the importance of membership in shaping a healthcare future that reflects our values and vision. A special thanks to Sarah Hormachea, RD, MS, CDCES, BC-ADM for her meaningful insights and guest article contribution.
In celebration of fiber, don’t miss nutrition expert Christine Craig’s article featuring the unsung benefits of fiber plus a high five list.
A tech-focused feature from Dr. Beattie explores how technology and diabetes distress can be linked, along with tools to address it.
You are the heartbeat of health care! Here’s to leading with love this month and every month.
With hearts full of gratitude,
Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Astraea & Katarina
Basic & e-Deluxe CDCES Boot Camp Bundle includes:
CDCES Boot Camp | 50+ CEs
Our CDCES Boot Camp Online Prep Bundle is a comprehensive, high-impact program built specifically for healthcare professionals preparing for the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam.
✔ Earn CE/CPE credit through AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR. For more information on accreditation, visit the registration page on our Online Store and click the “Accreditation” tab.
✔ Learn at your pace with expert-led, exam-focused content
✔ Everything you need—organized, practical, and in one place
✔ Perfect for self-directed learners who want complete, person-centered content for clinical practice and exam prep.
✔ Build knowledge, sharpen test-taking skills, and prepare with confidence—on your schedule.
Focused. Flexible. Proven.
Gain fresh insights, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of the latest in person-centered diabetes care. Our expert team brings the ADA Standards of Care to life—covering medications, behavior change, technology, and more!
If you’re renewing your CDCES or BC-ADM certification this live conference, paired with a handful of free bonus courses, serves as the ideal renewal companion!
Join this FREE, pharmacist-focused webinar Co-led by Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, BCACP, CDCES, FADCES, FCCP, Endocrinology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist and Coach Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM.
Leave with a practical roadmap for achieving Certification Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) or Board Certification in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM).
Making a connection is healing for the person in our care and for us too.
This is why I developed what I call the ABC Worksheet — a simple framework rooted in forging genuine connections rather than focusing on corrections:
This simple ABC approach shifts the tone of care. Instead of asking, “Why aren’t you doing this?” we ask, “I’m curious, what’s the hardest thing about managing your diabetes right now?”
Diabetes is just one aspect of their complete humanity. Diabetes is a common chronic condition that disrupts the usual orchestration of glucose management. No one can give themselves diabetes. And, the individual with diabetes is not to blame for this glucose dysregulation. It’s due to a combination of genetics, early childhood experiences, and social factors that shape health.
I give all of us permission to free ourselves from being responsible for patients’ choices. Our job is to listen and help the individual discover their own internal wisdom. The best way to tap into their self-knowledge is to allow space for reflection and to ask permission before offering our well-intentioned insights.
As I write in my book, “Engaging in active listening is considered a therapeutic intervention on its own. When we focus on listening with curiosity first, something powerful happens. A bridge is built – a connection is made.”
This bridge of active listening provides the perfect segue to dive into diabetes distress and the emotional weightiness of life with diabetes.
Diabetes distress acts like a brake. If we don’t first address fear, shame, or diabetes overwhelm, not even the best diabetes education plan will stick. But when we assess emotional well-being early, we release that brake — and forward movement becomes possible. (Here is a link to Diabetes Distress Screening Tools)
And here is the beautiful part: this approach doesn’t just help the person with diabetes. It sustains us.
“In the end, a person-centered approach doesn’t only support the person with diabetes—it also supports the healthcare professional by fostering authentic connection, shared responsibility, and a greater sense of purpose in your work.”
Investing in connection reduces burnout and increases the likelihood of success. It frees us from being responsible for their choices. We are simply the coach, helping them discover the wisdom they already possess. This partnership can restore our purpose and allow us to be present in this healing journey. Compassion is re-energizing for us and for the person in our care.
So instead of saying, “I know you don’t want to get diabetes complications, so you need to really work on your weight loss goals,” we greet the person and ask them, how are you feeling?
Instead of focusing on their weight at the scale, we ask them, how are you feeling in your body?
Instead of focusing on the weight they have gained, we focus on the behavior changes they have made (meeting with the RDN, eating more veggies, and decreasing their soda intake).
How good does that feel for both the health care provider and the person in their care? It feels great.
Download the ABC’s of Teaching Through Connection Worksheet and begin integrating Awareness, Belonging, and Collaboration into your daily practice.
And if this message resonates with you, I invite you to explore Healing through Connection for Healthcare Professionals. Coach Beverly wrote this book to help you care for others while finding yourself in the process.
👉 Download the Worksheet
👉 Order the Book Here
Let’s move from judgment to partnership.
Let’s lead with connection and curiosity.
Coach Bev 💜
Join national experts including Dr. Diana Isaacs (Cleveland Clinic), Beverly Thomassian (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig for high-impact, virtual learning—no travel required.
✔ Learn from National Experts — Anywhere
Get the same expert-level instruction you’d receive in person, delivered live to your home or office.
✔ Interactive & Flexible
Walk away with tools you can apply immediately in clinical practice or while preparing for CDCES or BC-ADM exams. From insulin dosing protocols to behavior change strategies that work in the real world—this content bridges theory & practice.
Get exam-ready with confidence.
Course credits through AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR!
Full accreditation details are available on the registration page
Our CDCES Boot Camp Online Prep Bundle is a comprehensive, high-impact program built specifically for healthcare professionals preparing for the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam who want to level up their clinical knowledge and skills.
This evidence-based study bundle is a comprehensive BC-ADM Boot Camp designed for advanced-level healthcare professionals preparing for the Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM) exam and will also provide you with state-of-the-art information to level up your clinical practice.
