How to Help New Diabetes Patients Better Manage Their Condition

• By Joseph Duffy
• Jul 01, 2011

It’s hard not to be shocked by the pace of the growth of the diabetes population. Statistics from the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet are staggering:

• 25.8 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes (8.3 percent of U.S. population).
• 10.9 million people 65 years and older in the U.S. had diabetes in 2010 (26.9 percent of U.S. population).
• Diabetes was a factor in 232,404 U.S. deaths in 2007.
• $174 billion was the total cost of diagnosed diabetes in the U.S. in 2007.

The complications brought on by diabetes include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, neuropathy and amputation. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

Type II diabetes, which usually begins as insulin resistance, accounts for 90 percent to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Its causes include older age, obesity, a family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity. With the rise in obesity levels, Type II diabetes will remain a significant challenge.

If it hasn’t happened already, a newly diagnosed diabetes patient will likely seek your help, making you a part of what the American Diabetes Association calls that patient’s Diabetes Care Team. This team includes the doctor, provider, diabetes educator, caregiver, dietician, etc. The goal is that by everyone working together, patients will be compliant and ultimately successful in managing their disease.

(Side note: Some industry experts feel that with competitive bidding, this cohesiveness is severely threatened and is already being blamed for producing less compliant patients. For example, when diabetes patients are not getting what their doctors recommend and instead receive meters that are unknown to their healthcare professional, there is a possible breakdown in the continuity of healthcare wellness.)

The patient’s recent news of being diagnosed with diabetes can be devastating and can manifest in different ways. This is a critical point in helping patients to manage their diabetes and stay the course to wellness.

According to Mark F. Gielniak, vice president, Diabetes Plus, Inc., typical reactions to being newly diagnosed include denial, disbelief and a feeling of hopelessness. Gielniak understands the value of a powerful Diabetes Care Team, which includes patients’ family and friends.

“We at Diabetes Plus train patients and their family members (whenever possible) how to use glucometers,” said Gielniak “ By including family in the training process this helps build a support system around the patient.”

Other reactions typical in newly diagnosed diabetes patients include guilt and anger.

With diabetes patients’ diagnosis comes an onslaught of lifestyle changes. And many patients who have never experienced some of these new tasks will be overwhelmed and frustrated. Lifestyle changes for diabetes patients include getting active, weight loss, checking blood glucose, diet changes, and medicines.

One of the more difficult lifestyle changes that Gielniak sees in newly diagnosed patients is adjusting to a more structured meal schedule and the types and quantity of foods they can eat. Adding exercising to their day can also be difficult, especially if it has not been part of their daily life prior to their diagnosis, he says.

Like in all new diagnoses, education is key to setting patients on the right course for good health. Especially when dealing with newly diagnosed diabetes patients, providers must be armed with accurate, compassionate responses that support patients and encourage them that although their disease is serious, it can be managed.

“We provide education about product use,” says Gielniak, “We encourage patients to sign up for classes at local hospitals, visit a certified diabetes educator or registered dietitian.”

A newly diagnosed diabetes patient needs many things and can often feel bombarded by the many different bits of new information they receive. With many of his own family members having diabetes, Gielniak learned from personal experience that it’s particularly important to underscore all interactions with compassion, encouragement and understanding.

“We encourage diabetes patients to eat well, exercise and test blood sugars, as directed by their doctor,” says Gielniak. “We also provide a log book so patients can write down their readings so they can show their doctor. Also it helps them to see their progress, which also encourages them to continue on with diet, exercise and medication usage.”

Gielniak points out that in his experience, new diabetes patients tend to have a high compliance rate. “It is only after six months to one year that we see old habits come back,” he says. “Diabetes patients stop exercising, cheat on their diet and stop testing blood sugar levels. We encourage them to revisit their doctor, diabetes educator or dietitian and to test more regularly.”

Finally, the American Diabetes Association puts a lot of emphasis on how a patients’ mental state can help in successfully managing the disease. So first, help your patients to learn to laugh. Laughter helps add perspective and even build confidence in knowing that the disease can be dealt with. And laughter has been shown to lower glucose levels. Second, help your patient to stay positive. Help your patients to find the positives about their newfound diagnosis, such as it is manageable and that they are not alone in battling it.

This article originally appeared in the July 2011 issue of HME Business.