A diagnosis of diabetes brings many challenges, such as dealing with the fact that the condition is serious and chronic. But diabetes can be kept under control. The development of a relationship with health care providers is important to the success of managing diabetes.
Impact of Diagnosis
A diabetic faces the prospect of many changes. He must learn to take blood samples to monitor glucose levels, he may need to lose weight or adopt a new diet, he may establish a consistent exercise routine, learn to draw up and inject insulin, and understand the importance of foot care. All require the health care provider to develop a partnership with the diabetic to ensure success.
Therapeutic Communication Skills
An effective partnership is built on listening skills. Therapeutic listening requires undivided attention to the speaker and an effort to fully understand what is being said. Listen not only to the words, but also the tone and pitch of the voice. Ask questions to clarify what is being said. Observe the person's body language, looking for clues to the emotions behind the spoken message. Being therapeutic means demonstrating respect, being nonjudgmental, sharing current clinical data and acknowledging the person's statements. Being empathic means trying to understand how the person feels about his or her situation, and acknowledging those feelings as valid.
Barriers to Adherence
It is vitally important to understand some barriers a diabetic person might have that interfere with adherence to self-care management. Emotional reactions might include denial, depression, anger and anxiety. All can affect the person physically because they cause stress, which increases blood sugar. In addition, the person may lack social and family support, be pressured for time or persist with old health beliefs.
Self-Care Management
Using therapeutic communication will help establish a working, respectful relationship. The health care provider's goals are to improve adherence, promote a prescribed diet and exercise regimen, extinguish high-risk health behaviors and improve social and family functioning. Each time the person falters, it is important to try to help in a nonjudgmental way to understand why it happened and how it can be avoided in the future.
