Diabetes - 3 - Condition & Symptoms

Possible Action Steps

Improving BG control
- Discuss that blood glucose control is largely a result of self-managing medications, diet and nutrition, physical activity, and preventing and coping with stress
- Encourage individual to record blood glucose level, medications, and diet using a care record on a daily basis
- Encourage the individual to take steps to become a blood glucose self-monitoring and tracking pro; meeting the recommended guidelines as outlined by their provider(s)
Coping with emotions
- Have an honest conversation about the individual's true feelings about having diabetes. How do these feelings impact self-management of medications, diet, activity and stress?
- Together, identify the ways that stress impacts individual's diabetes self-management plan
- Discuss effective stress coping skills and put them to use to control stress and better manage diabetes

Supporting Resources

Possible Action Steps

Discuss tips to keep eyes, feet and teeth/gums healthy
Encourage individual to make an appointment to get an annual diabetes eye exam
Encourage individual to check feet once each day for sores/ulcers that are slow to heal. Report persistent foot problems to doctor asap.
Discuss actual and ideal body weight and BMI. Work to create a plan to make changes in nutrition and activity to achieve weight/BMI goals
Discuss actual and recommended blood pressure levels. Work to create a plan to achieve BP targets.
Discuss actual and recommended weight and waist measurements. Work to create a plan to achieve weight and waist measurements.

Supporting Resources

Possible Action Steps

Together make a list of inexpensive and fun ways to self-reward for behaviors that lower blood glucose. Avoid rewards that involve junk food, smoking and being inactive!
Encourage individual to self-reward when individual meets milestones such as:
- Self-checking and tracking blood glucose level recommended number of times each day for one full month
- Get A1c measure for six straight months
- Perform a once daily foot check for one full month
- Perform tooth and soft palate brushing twice a day and flossing once a day for one full month
- Losing a pound or two over two weeks
- Adhering to medication schedule for the week

Supporting Resources