Program Overview and Pre-Program Session

Through this conversation-based engagement and education program, participants will take a journey down the path to better diabetes management. They will explore what diabetes is, the relationship between food and diabetes, how to better monitor and understand their blood glucose results, and discuss the effects of diabetes over time. Goal setting and assignment activities will keep them engaged between sessions and beyond.

The Program Overview: goes over the details of the Conversation Map^® methodology and the steps involved in facilitating a virtual Conversation Map session.

Pre-Session Guide: is used in an optional Pre-Program Session prior to Session 1 for the purpose of helping participants become familiar with the virtual session format. During the Pre-Program Session participants review the platform controls with and discuss a few preliminary questions. The Pre-Program Session utilizes a small portion of the Session 1 module, and the script begins on page 5 of the Overview and Pre-Program Session guide.

Download Guide

Session 1 —Your Journey with Diabetes

Participants begin their diabetes management journey by getting in the driver’s seat and exploring the basics of diabetes. They will discuss:

1. What diabetes is
2. Information needed about diabetes
3. Blood glucose and blood glucose targets
4. Feelings about diabetes
5. Setting goals

Post-Session Assignment: reflect on what they would like to get out of the program and record any relevant short- and long-term goals

Download Guide | Launch Session | Launch Session (Spanish)

Session 2 — Understanding the Basics

Participants continue down the path of their diabetes management journey by exploring additional basics of diabetes. They will discuss:

1. Some common myths and facts about diabetes and where to get needed information
2. The various ways diabetes can be managed, including healthy eating
3. Monitoring blood glucose and using the results
4. Tracking one’s goals

Post-Session Assignment: record at least one blood glucose reading

Download Guide | Launch Session | Launch Session (Spanish)

Session 3 — Monitoring Blood Glucose

Participants learn about monitoring their blood glucose and getting the most out of their results. They will discuss:

1. The basics of blood glucose—what it is and what it means for the management of one’s diabetes
2. Blood glucose targets
3. Monitoring blood glucose and A1C
4. The symptoms of high and low blood glucose
5. The causes of high and low blood glucose
6. Setting goals

Post-Session Assignment: write down or take a picture of meals using the map4health^® app for at least one day

Download Guide | Launch Session | Launch Session (Spanish)

Session 4 — Healthy Eating and Diabetes

Participants will “visit” a marketplace to learn about healthy eating and diabetes. They will discuss:

1. The relationship between food and diabetes
2. Feelings about food and diabetes
3. Some basics about food and food choices and understanding the nutrients one needs
4. Some strategies for healthy eating
5. Setting goals

Post-Session Assignment: continue to take pictures of meals, and record meals and blood glucose readings for at least one day using the map4health^® app or a journal

Download Guide | Launch Session | Launch Session (Spanish)

Session 5 — Using Your Numbers

Participants re-visit the hot air balloon concept as it compares to managing blood glucose. The focus is on monitoring blood glucose and using their numbers to maintain a “steady, even flight.” They will discuss:

1. The importance of physical activity and medication in managing blood glucose
2. Ways to treat high and low blood glucose
3. How changes in routine can impact blood glucose
4. How to use blood glucose results and manage patterns
5. Setting some goals to be more active

Post-Session Assignment: think of one strategy to increase activity

Download Guide | Launch Session | Launch Session (Spanish)

Session 6 — Healthy Eating Strategies

Participants will “re-visit” the marketplace and common scenarios involving food to further explore healthy eating and diabetes management. They will discuss:

1. When they eat and some tips for when to eat
2. How much they eat
3. Some strategies for healthy eating including nutrition label reading and carb counting
4. Some strategies for eating less
5. Some common food challenges and planning for those challenges

Post-Session Assignment: record questions about diabetes medications

Download Guide | Launch Session | Launch Session (Spanish)

Session 7 — Managing Diabetes Long-Term

Participants begin to focus on managing diabetes for the long-term. They will discuss:

1. A review of the natural course of diabetes
2. Reducing the risk of long-term complications
3. How to keep their blood glucose on target
4. Diabetes medications and how they work in the body
5. Some of the basics of insulin and the different types of insulin
6. Setting goals

Post-Session Assignment: think of a long-term goal and think of a way to share that goal(s) with their support network

Download Guide | Launch Session | Launch Session (Spanish)

Session 8 — Continuing Your Journey

Participants will continue their discussion about managing diabetes for the long-term and conclude their journey with this program. They will discuss:

1. Long-term complications of diabetes and steps one can take to prevent or delay them
2. How to check for complications and the importance of screenings
3. The ABCs of diabetes management
4. Setting long-term goals and use of the map4health^® app

Post-Session Assignment: continue to set and track goals by writing them down or using the map4health^® app or website

Download Guide | Launch Session | Launch Session (Spanish)