Making Diabetes Management More Manageable

A diabetes diagnosis can come with more than questions about blood sugar. For some patients, it brings fear shaped by the experiences of family or friends. Others wonder how they will manage medications, meals and appointments while balancing work and family.

“When a patient hears that diagnosis, or they're told their A1C is elevated, I think it is easy to run to that mindset of this means losing a limb, or my dad had that and passed away,” said Nicole Chestnut, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. “Priority number one is how do we debunk that kind of thought at the start.”

Understanding a diagnosis and learning how to manage it takes more than a one-time conversation with a provider. The support each patient needs can also look different depending on their health, circumstances and where they are in their diabetes journey.

Depending on their needs, patients may find support through several services:

• Registered Dietitians, who help patients understand how food, movement and daily routines affect their health.
• Pharmacy Diabetes Management, which helps patients better understand and manage their medications.
• Chronic Care Management, which provides ongoing support for patients managing diabetes and other chronic conditions.
• Chronic Disease Self-Management/Tomando, which brings people together to learn strategies for living with chronic conditions.
• Teaching Kitchen classes, which offer hands-on opportunities to learn how familiar foods can be adjusted to support health goals.

Programs vary by location. Patients can check with their clinic to learn which services are available in their area.

“Different people have different struggles, and we have to meet them where they're at,” Chestnut said.

Chestnut recalled a patient with a family history of diabetes who found their diagnosis difficult to accept. At first, even talking about diabetes was hard. The patient missed visits and felt ashamed when family members learned about the diagnosis.

Over time, those conversations became easier. The patient began exploring what living with diabetes could look like and the support that might work for her. She connected with a behavioral health specialist and eventually joined Teaching Kitchen classes with her family. There, she discovered a breakfast she enjoyed that also helped her manage her blood sugar.

“They are really just starting to put the puzzle pieces together,” Chestnut said. Today, the patient continues to meet with Chestnut and is interested in joining a group class.

Managing diabetes happens largely outside the clinic. Work schedules, medication costs, access to food and family responsibilities can all affect what someone is able to do. As life changes, the kind of support that works for them may change, too.

What works for someone today may change as their health, family or circumstances change. Their care can change with them.

“Diabetes is forever,” Chestnut said. “But we have options and there is support.”