Managing Prediabetes & Diabetes: Health Coaching delivers lasting change
There’s no doubt that diabetes isn't just a diagnosis – it's a new way of life for the person who is diagnosed as well as their family. For many, the idea of diabetes management evokes images of strict diets and endless finger pricks, but a new movement in diabetes care is shifting this paradigm.
What if I told you that with the right knowledge and support, a diabetes diagnosis doesn't have to be the end of your personal freedom and you get to have many more decades of good health?
It's not just about knowing what to do, it's about understanding why, how, and most importantly, having the support to truly make it happen. Let’s delve into how diabetes coaching is transforming how patients manage their blood sugar and improve their quality of life. If you’re caring for someone with insulin resistance or type-2 diabetes, keep reading, you may be the key person requiring support yourself!
First let’s look at how diabetes arises.
Blood sugar basics: what you need to know for managing diabetes
Blood sugar levels play an essential role in the management of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. To put it simply: when you eat, your body converts food into blood sugar, or glucose, which then enters your bloodstream. This increase in blood sugar triggers your pancreas to release insulin into the blood. Insulin's job is to help blood sugar move from the bloodstream into your body's cells to be used for energy and to tell your liver to store any excess for future needs. When you haven't eaten for a while, insulin levels drop, prompting the liver to release stored blood sugar to keep your energy levels stable.
However, when the balance between blood sugar and insulin is disrupted, problems begin.
If blood sugar levels are consistently high, the pancreas produces more insulin. Over time, if cells in the body become less responsive to insulin – a condition known as insulin resistance – the pancreas struggles to manage blood sugar levels effectively. Eventually, if the pancreas can't keep up and blood sugar levels continue to rise, setting the stage for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Moreover, high levels of insulin cause the liver to convert excess blood sugar to fat, leading to weight gain, another risk factor for diabetes.
Research also shows that factors like how much you sleep and how well you’re integrated into a social circle impact your likelihood of gaining weight and developing type 2 diabetes.*1, *2
The stakes are high, but so are the possibilities for improving your health with the guidance of a qualified diabetes coach.
What is a Diabetes Coach?
We all know we should eat better and exercise, but sometimes, the easiest things require the most effort. Social support plays a significant role in helping individuals stick to the behavioural changes they struggle to make.
A recent scientific research study analysing 88 health and wellness coaching studies published from 2000 – 2019, showed coaching as “valuable for improving the health status of obese and T2D patients.”*3
Think of it this way: you have the knowledge to climb a mountain, but a good guide knows the hidden paths, the best rest stops, and how to navigate the unpredictable weather.
That's the value a coach brings. They don't just tell you what to do; they equip you with the skills and support to make sustainable changes that fit seamlessly into your life. When you are empowered with the knowledge and skills to manage your blood sugar, you can thrive with insulin resistance or diabetes.
A diabetes coach is equipped with the knowledge and skills to guide you through navigating the complex journey of food choices and sticking to your medication and exercise routine. They play a crucial role in helping individuals manage their blood sugar levels.
Ways a coach contributes to your journey
1. Navigating Food Choices: A coach can guide you to make food choices with a lower impact on your blood sugar levels. They go beyond the buzzwords, helping you decode food choices for minimal blood sugar impact. They'll work with you to craft personalised meal plans that balance carbs, protein, and fats, ensuring consistent, stable glucose levels throughout the day. A coach also addresses complex eating habits, offering strategies to overcome challenges like binge eating and dining in social settings for a holistic approach to nutrition and glucose management.
2. Finding Your Fitness Groove: Physical activity naturally uses glucose as energy and can improve insulin sensitivity. But, finding an activity you actually enjoy may feel impossible. Your coach becomes your exercise cheerleader, helping to identify and create a workout plan that accommodates your preferences and capabilities so you’ll actually stick with it.
3. Master Monitoring your Sugar: A coach can guide you on the proper techniques for monitoring blood glucose levels, teaching you proper techniques and how to interpret results so you can confidently take the appropriate action.
4. Lifestyle Adjustments: Prioritising quality sleep and managing your stress can work wonders on your insulin resistance. A coach can help identify and tweak your daily routines to prioritize sleep, manage stress, and unlock the hidden potential within your body.
5. Medication Adherence: Making sure that medications are taken consistently and correctly is important, but often, that’s easier said than done. A coach can help you build a sustainable system that you can thrive on.
6. Goal Setting and Accountability: We may know what we need to do but staying on track can be tricky. A good coach will empathetically provide the motivation and accountability to help you stay on track. They'll celebrate your wins, big and small, and help you navigate setbacks with renewed focus and determination.
7. Support System: Diabetes can be an emotional rollercoaster whether you’re the patient or the caregiver. A coach could be a pillar of emotional support, holding no personal agenda besides your wellbeing and providing encouragement and guidance in the face of challenges.
Why work with me: A 3-step approach to freedom
Living with diabetes can feel like a constant battle but consistent attention to simple lifestyle changes can take you far.
What makes working with me different? I am a National Board certified Health and Wellness Coach and an ICF certified coach.
I have also spent decades understanding how to help my own family deal with chronic illness and how to prevent chronic diseases from travelling through generations. This gives me a unique empathy for caregivers.
My promise is to offer a judgement-free zone where I care for you unconditionally. My signature coaching programme is carefully structured into three distinct stages to:
Instil a strong understanding of how lifestyle factors contribute to insulin resistance
Optimise eating, stress, sleep, rest and exercise habits to help flatten your glucose mid to long term insulin response
Effectively manage any setbacks or low points in your journey and build your emotional resilience
I focus on implementing manageable and realistic alterations with the ultimate goal of reducing your reliance on medication, with the potential to achieve complete cessation and move towards remission.
The decision to change is powerful, but it's just the beginning towards a life where diabetes doesn't define you. Connect with me on a complimentary CareCall and let’s explore if we are a good fit.
*References:
Antza C, Kostopoulos G, Mostafa S, Nirantharakumar K, Tahrani A. The links between sleep duration, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Endocrinol. 2021 Dec 13;252(2):125-141. doi: 10.1530/JOE-21-0155. PMID: 34779405; PMCID: PMC8679843.
Song Y, Zhu C, Shi B, Song C, Cui K, Chang Z, Gao G, Jia L, Fu R, Dong Q, Feng L, Zhu C, Yin D, Manson JE, Dou K. Social isolation, loneliness, and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus: results from two large prospective cohorts in Europe and East Asia and Mendelian randomization. EClinicalMedicine. 2023 Sep 21;64:102236. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102236. PMID: 37767193; PMCID: PMC10520296.
Sforzo GA, Kaye MP, Faber A, Moore M. Dosing of Health and Wellness Coaching for Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: Research Synthesis to Derive Recommendations. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2022 Mar 1;17(3):374-385. doi: 10.1177/15598276211073078. PMID: 37304739; PMCID: PMC10248368.