- With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
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Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Nancy Klobassa Davidson and Peggy Moreland
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., B.S.N, C.D.E
Nancy Klobassa Davidson is a registered nurse who has worked in diabetes education for 17 years. She is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) and is currently in graduate school working on a Master of Science in nursing (M.S.N.) and health care education.Nancy works with adults who have type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Nancy is coordinator of the Diabetes Unit's intensive insulin therapy program within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Nancy has worked extensively with insulin pump therapy and continuous interstitial glucose sensing.
Peggy Moreland, R.N., M.S.N.
Peggy Moreland is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.Peggy graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Education from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. A certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.), Peggy enjoys working with patients to set and achieve diabetes self-management goals.
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Living with diabetes blog
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May 19, 2011
Managing diabetes: How to make changes
By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
I think change gets harder with age. I cringe inside when I find out I'm going to have to change the way I've been doing something at work and learn a new way, for example. It seems the only thing we can be certain about with change is that it will happen again. Health care behaviors seem to be some of the hardest changes to make.
A number of theories about human behavior and change exist. One such theory, by Kurt Lewin and Edgar Schein, proposes that change is a three-stage process — unfreezing a behavior, changing, and then refreezing the new behavior.
Getting motivated: Unfreezing
The first stage — the unfreezing stage — is becoming motivated to change. How do we become motivated to change? A new diagnosis of diabetes, a poor A1C report from the medical care provider, nudges from a family member or self-evaluation all might motivate change. At this stage, the change process becomes a mental game of mind over matter. We realize the current situation isn't working and that ignoring the condition won't make things better. Real and unreal anxieties can slow down and impede the process of change. You might question if you can change, how to start or if it will make a difference.
Making changes
The change stage follows making the decision that a change needs to occur. Next, we must decide what needs to change. Activities that help us change are beneficial in the change stage. These activities might include:
- Choosing a specific behavior you want to work on changing
- Being realistic — avoid trying to change everything at once
- Writing down the change and posting it in plain sight to give yourself a daily reminder
- Discussing the change with others around you and asking for their support and encouragement
- Finding a support group
- Seeing your diabetes health care team regularly
- Changing your environment to support your change, such as getting snacks out of the home
Making it permanent: Refreezing
The refreezing stage — making the change permanent — is probably the hardest stage. This final stage is when the change becomes habitual and includes developing a new self-concept. You become a person identifying and living for wellness.
Your thoughts?
Have a great week!
Nancy
9 comments posted
January 23, 2012 7:02 p.m.
Hi.I am new to posting so please excuse me. I liked your article about having to change and re evaluate our lifestyles. I have two friend that have diabetes and one tries to eat that candy and pays later. We really have to keep focused and stay on the healthy path as best as we can.I came across dandelionhealingtea.com and foun out that it is supposed to help diabetes. I thought I would share this knowledge for anyone who might want to check it out. I also read that it helps other conditions and is vitamin rich. I started drinking the dandelion tea for all of the other wonderful benefits it has and am going to tell my friends or just suprise them with a kind little gift of dandelion tea for them. Maybe this could be a beneficial,pleasant and easy way to at least begin to change for the sake of our health in a natural way.Take Care and don't give up!
- Beth
July 10, 2011 12:35 p.m.
I comprehend the concept of Unfreezing. But doing it seems imposible to me. How do I start? Where do I go for help.
- Ranell
June 29, 2011 2:01 p.m.
how many sugar grams a day can you have if you have diabetes ?
- ann
June 1, 2011 10:28 a.m.
barbara, try not to be so hard on yourself. It sounds like you are an evolving type 1 diabetic and they caught you early in the diagnosis where initially the pancreas insulin function was still working fairly well. Read the article in our blog titled "Diabetes Diagnosis, type is not always clear." Nov. 3,2009. This may help answer a few of your concerns. Nancy
- Nancy and Peggy
May 29, 2011 8:39 p.m.
I have what I thought was type 2 diabetes but now after a loss of 52lb and a complete loss of controle of my sugar levels I now have type 1. In just 3 days, no more oral meds but lots of shots...I feel like I messed up bad. HELP......
- barbara
May 26, 2011 4:54 a.m.
I'm a type 2 diabetic and I'm well educated. Even though I'm not stupid and I can see what I have to do, doing the right thing is so difficult. Being a diabetic in denial can be very frustrating indeed! Liked your blog - food for thought.
- Stephen
May 25, 2011 6:26 p.m.
I have to be motivated to make the change. My motivation was to watch older relatives succumb to diabetes. My doctor advised me on diet when I was dx with T2 ten years ago and so far no problems. I wish I had been motivated before the dx!
- Carol
May 25, 2011 5:43 p.m.
I'm 54 years ''young'' and I have stop drinking and doing illicit drugs for over 12 years and et times belive it or not I still fight it, coming to learn to get out of the ring was a hard lesson to say the least, in 2007 I had a heart attack and was also diagnose with diabetes type 2 and the first test they made for hepatitis c was a false positive wich meant that I a point in time I contracted it but I'm part of the lucky ones my body fought it within the first 48 hours so I am not a bearer of it (to close for comfort) if you ask me. There is plenty of stuff that I should do to be healthier but I'm not motivated in the least to do them why, mainly because...its a very long story that I hope will end soon.
- Michel
May 23, 2011 12:36 p.m.
We'd like to mention our commitment to encouraging a healthy diet. For someone with a new health issue there can be a challenging transition. The health benefits eating of fish are enormous - not with a generic fish sandwiches or greasy fish & chips at a fast food joint - but with wonderful home cooked recipes or the frozen healthy cuisine we create.
- Sea Cuisine
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