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!
Engaging the Disengaged Conference
April 18, 2026 in San Diego
Meet the Expert Facilitators for Engaging the Disengaged Here!
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).
Level-Up Your Diabetes Expertise with Our Virtual DiabetesEd Training
April 15th-17th, 2026
Why Should I Attend?
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
- Live Q&A and real-time case discussions
- Direct engagement with faculty
- Full session recordings with 1-year access if you can’t attend live
What's Included?
- 19.5 CEs from the 3-day interactive conference + 17+ bonus CEs from 11 on-demand courses. (30+ total CEs are AMA PRA Category 1™, ACPE, ANCC, CDR accredited)
- Less than $15 per credit!
- Expert-led sessions: ADA Standards, medications, insulin therapy, behavior change, CGM, medical nutrition therapy
- Interactive Q&A with expert faculty during live sessions
- 1-year access to all recordings that you can watch on your schedule
- Study material for CDCES and BC-ADM exam prep
Practical, Ready-to-Use Strategies
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.
DiabetesEd Virtual Early Bird Pricing Still Available!
Register Now to Save | Ends March 15th
