Diabetes Coaching: A General Flow Chart
Content by: NCES, Inc.
Diabetes coaching requires consistent education and communication. See a general flow chart for coaching persons with diabetes.
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When starting from scratch, diabetes education can often be a daunting and overwhelming task. Diabetes coaching requires consistent education and communication. See a general flow chart with essential education points so you don’t miss a beat.
Consistent education and reinforcement of steps is necessary for persons with diabetes. It's a complicated disease, and even when someone has managed well, it's often necessary to get back to the basics.
Coaching Steps!
Step One: Review the most recent lab values and A1C test.
Step Two: Education on the overview of (Type 1 or 2) Diabetes, and any other underlying conditions.
Step Three: The importance of monitoring blood glucose levels, and how food can affect these levels.
Step Four: Education on carbohydrates, and how to consume a consistent carb diet.
Step Five: Grocery shopping for a diabetic diet, reading nutrition fact labels.
Step Six: Discuss eating out and alcohol intake with diabetes.
Step Seven: Discuss complications of unmanaged diabetes. Understanding foot care, heart health, hypertension.
Step Eight: Problem solving, how to handle hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
Helpful Resources:
Offer a plate to help with portion control:
https://ncesaffiliate.com/product/right-sized-diabetes-plate/
Understanding the exchange system (or carb content in common foods):
https://ncesaffiliate.com/product/right-sized-diabetes-plate/
Glucose wands offer a visual for clients to understand the effects of high glucose levels on the body:
https://ncesaffiliate.com/product/diabetes-glucose-wands-2-set/