• Fresh Views

    U if for Unbothered: Do you desire to live unbothered?

    After waiting in the drive through unbothered, and arriving back home, the coffee cup sleeve fell off the cup and there was this message underneath.

    Unbothered people don’t allow their happiness to be determined by the actions of others.

    ~Unknown

    Words are incredibly powerful. Think about it…just one positive or negative word can affect another person’s whole day. It can build someone up, or bring someone down. Through the course of writing our blog, engaging in research, and connecting with the diabetes community, over the past 5 years we have compiled words that align with the tenets of a solution-focused approach to care and education. Words spoken by people with diabetes in surveys, research, and focus groups. Words expressed during Twitter chats. Words written in papers.  To that end, a few years back  we wrote about the importance of words here. We pondered…How can we draw attention to these words and have them easily flow into conversations between diabetes care and education specialists and our clients? As a step in that direction, we wrote an entire series of blogs focused on some of these key words that inspire solution-focused thinking. 

    With the beginning of this new year, we decided to take inventory of the solution-focused words that we’ve addressed throughout the life of this blog, comparing them to the alphabet. To our surprise, the only letters missing were letters U, X, and Z. Those of you that know us, know we must finish what we start, and that we love a good challenge! So here we go! 

    U is for Unbothered

    The unbothered mindset is a powerful tool to navigate the challenges or inconveniences (minor or major) of life. It can help bring peace amidst chaos and help face challenges with courage. Let’s be clear – living unbothered is NOT about NOT caring. It’s actually about caring deeply to know what truly matters and letting go of what doesn’t. 

    Becoming an “unbothered” person can change everything. An unbothered person is one who has learned how to be unbothered by things that bother most people. It’s recognized that living unbothered can foster:

    We’ve been putting this solution-focused tenet into practice… 

    Living unbothered takes consistent practice. And in no way are we perfect at this, but we’re trying: Unbothered by waiting in the self-checkout behind someone with an entire cart of groceries, chatting on the phone with no sense of urgency. Unbothered by bottleneck rush hour traffic in the pouring rain. Unbothered by a friend taking longer to answer a text than we think it should take.

    Sure, it could be easy to get wound up about any of those situations. And without a doubt, it’s difficult to be happy when you’re bothered by what’s going on around you, what others think of you, and how you react to it.  Living unbothered means there are more important things to worry about. We’ve found that adopting the unbothered lens, means less stress and anxiety – and more peace.

    We challenge you this week to Slow down. Be present. Be mindful. Becoming unbothered is a journey, not a destination. Let us know how it’s going.

    Drop back by to check out our next two posts and how we tackle letters “X” and “Z”!

    We welcome anyone interested in our approach to Subscribe to our blog and we’ll email you when a new post is published!

    If you are a health care professional and interested in learning more about our solution-focused practice and approach, when you subscribe to our blog, we’ll send you in return a FREE resource of 10 Solution-Focused Questions to start a solution-focused discussion with your clients. 

    Follow us on Twitter @AFreshPOVforYou

    Deb is employed by Dexcom, but her words and opinions in this blog are her own.

    Tami is employed by the University of Kentucky HealthCare Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, but her words and opinions in this blog are her own.

  • Fresh Views

    Inspire self-care with your words

    Self-care is how you take your power back. – Lalah Delia

    We recently returned from the ADCES23 conference in HOT Houston and are still processing all that we heard and learned from the speakers and exhibitors! This was an extra special conference as we were celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Association. As Past Presidents, both Tami and Deb were recognized on-stage during the opening session. There were so many special events and opportunities to network with colleagues and friends, both old and new.

    As we close out our summer self-care series, two sessions that particularly resonated with us that we want to share were presented by. Lauren Plunkett, RDN, LD, CDCDES, Frame a Healthy Relationship with Food Using Nutrition-Focused Language Skills and an engaging presentation by co-presenters Dr. Natalie Bellini, Dr. Diana Isaacs, and Dr. Sean Oser, Use Time in Range to Congratulate, Celebrate, Recognize, Align and Partner. (Lauren’s presentation is available On-Demand if you registered for the conference and didn’t catch it live.) All of these speakers emphasized the power of words and how we, as healthcare professionals (HCPs), can inspire self-care through the words that we use by using empowering language.

    Optimistic Coaching & A Positive Food Vocabulary

    Lauren, a person living with diabetes (PWD) reminded us that PWD have it in themselves to be exceptional! She acknowledged the significant impact that diabetes has on emotional health and that awareness of emotional health can help sharpen communication skills.She encouraged leading client/patient encounters with a positive attitude and engaging in “optimistic coaching” to support self–efficacy and quality of life. GIven that she’s an RDN, her particular focus was around addressing immediate needs and using positive food vocabulary, such as “colorful”, “flavorful”, “nourishing”, and “abundance”. She reframed food as “energetic nourishment” and that eaters focus on quality and addition (such as eating more plants, more fiber) rather than subtraction. 

    Asking Questions and Focusing on the Positive

    During the discussion on time in range (TIR) the speakers emphasized that getting to know your patients can help to understand their daily lives which will lead to a greater understanding of their challenges and successes with diabetes management. When reviewing ambulatory glucose profile (AGP) data, HCPs were encouraged to find something positive to discuss, no matter how small. Only focusing on the negative is not empowering. As we @AFreshPOVforYou have discussed before, these presenters reminded the audience to not focus on data as “good” or “bad” but as neutral in order to help reduce the stigma often associated with diabetes. In addition, the presenters recommended technology to support people with diabetes in their management. While this ADCES23 presentation is not on-demand, we’re told there may be a repeat at the December ADCES Technology Conference.

    We welcome anyone interested in our approach to Subscribe to our blog and we’ll email you when a new post is published!

    If you are a health care professional and interested in learning more about our solution-focused practice and approach, when you subscribe to our blog, we’ll send you in return a FREE resource of 10 Solution-Focused Questions to start a solution-focused discussion with your clients. 

    Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @AFreshPOVforYou

    Deb is employed by Dexcom, but her words and opinions in this blog are her own.

    Tami is employed by the University of Kentucky HealthCare Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, but her words and opinions in this blog are her own.

  • Fresh Views

    Transform Primary Care Encounters: Tackling the Diabetes Diagnosis

    “Health is a state of body. Wellness is a state of being.” ~ J. Stanford

    Our prior post in our series on transforming primary care encounters focused on combating therapeutic inertia. Today, we’d like to start from the very beginning – the conversation when the client first learns they have type 2 diabetes (T2D).  When beginning diabetes conversions using a solution-focused approach, we believe you will find that your relationship with your clients can improve and it will create an opportunity for ongoing shared decision-making.

    As a reminder, a solution-focused approach is the opposite of a “problem-focused” approach. The goal is to help the person with T2D recognize exceptions (when their problems did not happen) and help them to focus on their health behavior changes by doing “more of what works.”

    Using a solution-focused approach at the T2D diagnosis conversation?

    When preparing for the diagnosis conversation, first put yourself in your clients shoes. How would you want the conversation to go? What would you want to hear? Also consider your body language, your tone and word choice. We know in a busy primary care office, so much time is spent documenting in the EHR, but for this very important discussion, take a moment and step away from the computer, lean in to your client, show empathy and compassion while you say some very important words. Many are overwhelmed when they hear the news that they have T2D, and often won’t hear much of the rest of the conversation. Ask questions and engage in problem free talk, instead of giving a list of instructions. Maybe you simply state, “I know this is hard to hear, how can I help?” and “What information would you like to hear from me today as you start to learn about T2D?” Consider making this appointment brief and bring them back for a follow up “diabetes only” visit once they have time to absorb and process the information. 

    To build upon our blog on therapeutic inertia, we’re including some impactful information from the American Diabetes Association that encourages four critical conversations that promote “early positive conversations about the nature of diabetes.” These conversations address many tenets we value in a solution-focused approach, including person-centered, strength-based language, problem-free talk, listening, and building a partnership with clients.

    4 critical conversations

    There are four critical conversations that need to happen very early in the diagnosis. We encourage you to build upon these questions at each visit. Start small with a few comments and then build upon them as the person is learning to accept the diagnosis and is ready to learn more. At diagnosis, conversation #1 is the most significant. (adapted from ADA Overcoming Therapeutic Inertia)

    1. The nature of T2D is to change over time, as your insulin production changes.

    “I want you to know that diabetes is not a personal failure and it doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong.”

    1. Your treatment plan will change over time as your diabetes changes.

    “You may need to add new medications as your diabetes changes. This is not a personal failure, just a part of how diabetes treatment progresses.”

    1. You can’t do this alone.

    “I am here to help you.”

    1. Share your difficulties with managing your diabetes.

    “Managing diabetes day in and day out can be hard. Share anything that may be getting in the way of managing your diabetes and also share your successes.”

    Close the diagnosis visit with a scaling question.

    On a scale of 0-10 where zero is no stress and 10 is the worst stress you’ve ever experienced, where are you right now?

    Use their answer to finish the visit and provide one action for them to focus on.

    • If 0-4:  encourage them to do some research online at trusted sources like the ADA, Diatribe, or ADCES.
    • If 5-7:  identify one strength they already have and build upon it
      • “What is one thing you do for yourself every day that makes you feel healthy? How can  you do more of that?”
    • If 8-10: just encourage them to breathe and take some time to let it sink in and to come back with questions in one week
      • “I know how hard this can be, take some time, write down questions you have, and let’s meet and talk more next week.”

    Reinforce that small changes can help move them in the right direction, and that you do not expect perfection. If they do the best that they can do, that’s the best they can do.  Remind them that you are partners on this journey. We believe that creating a supportive environment from day one, can empower people to learn to live with their diabetes.

    Keep reading our series on incorporating a solution-focused approach when managing T2D in the primary care setting. Next time we will focus on the first follow up visit after diagnosis.  Stop back by in 2 weeks as we share more tips to build your solution-focused tool-kit over time. 

    We welcome anyone interested in our approach to Subscribe to our blog and we’ll email you when a new post is published!

    If you are a health care professional and interested in learning more about our solution-focused practice and approach, when you subscribe to our blog, we’ll send you in return a FREE resource of 10 Solution-Focused Questions to start a solution-focused discussion with your clients. 

    Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @AFreshPOVforYou

    Deb is employed by Dexcom, but her words and opinions in this blog are her own.

    Tami is employed by the University of Kentucky HealthCare Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, but her words and opinions in this blog are her own.