- With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
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.
Latest entries
- Diabetes etiquette: When you don't have diabetes
May 2, 2013
- Coping with diabetes: Helping your loved one
April 24, 2013
- Types of diabetes
March 16, 2013
- Taking diabetes drugs
Feb. 27, 2013
- Insulin or medication?
Feb. 13, 2013
Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Living with diabetes blog
-
Aug. 1, 2012
Self talk: What are you telling yourself?
By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
"I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and, doggone it, people like me!"
Stuart Smalley, a character played by Al Franken on Saturday Night Live, may have been a little over the top, but Stuart was on the right track when it comes to self-talk and positive affirmations.
What is self-talk? It's the way you "talk" to yourself inside your head. Self-talk can be positive or negative. And with all of life's complications and stresses, we can easily start down a path of blaming ourselves, which can be self-defeating.
I've noticed that those with diabetes are proficient at self-chastisement. "My blood glucose is high; I screwed up again." What might be better to say? "Yes, my blood glucose is high, but it's only one reading, and it will come down." Admittedly, this is easier said than done sometimes.
Common thought patterns that lead to negative self-talk include:
- All-or-nothing thinking. Looking at situations in extremes — "If I'm not good, I must be bad."
- Never-or -always thinking. Wanting total perfection — "I must always follow my meal plan."
- Negative thinking. Focusing on negative ideas — "Why does it matter, I'll get complications anyway."
- Overgeneralization. Assuming one thing is the same as another — "Eating one cookie is the same as eating the whole bag."
- Catastrophic thinking. Exaggerating something's importance — "I can't keep my house as clean as I used to, so I must be a failure."
- Over-personalizing. Taking responsibility for something that may be outside of your control — "I got diabetes because I ate too much candy; it's all my fault."
How can you break yourself from these thinking patterns?
- Reverse negative thoughts. Try to explain things to yourself differently — "I am a good person who deserves better."
- Hang out with people who think positively. Positive people can be a big support system if you let them.
- Stay away from negative environments if possible.
- Distract yourself. When negative self-talk begins, take a short walk, meditate, pray, do breathing exercises, practice tai chi, listen to music, read, or keep a "gratitude journal" — start writing down everything for which you're grateful.
It's possible to start changing your negative thoughts to positive ones through steps like these. Sometimes, though, self-help tips aren't enough to break out of a negative thinking cycle.
Negative thinking can be a symptom of a more serious condition, depression.
If you're experiencing depression, your healthcare provider can refer you to a therapist who's trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT therapists teach people how to change such negative thinking.
In Minnesota, we've recently been experiencing record-breaking high temperatures. My positive thoughts are: I'm grateful for air-conditioning, access to swimming pools and ice tea.
Have a great week.
Regards,
Nancy
10 comments posted
May 18, 2013 6:41 p.m.
Thanks again for all the good thoughts to help me have a more positive attitude!!!
- Beth
April 2, 2013 4:06 p.m.
For Karen. If you take 1600mg of Gabapentin a day & it isn't helping you, it's time to seek a different drug from your MD. I take 900mg a day with good results but just for my feet. I wish you well & hope you find some help soon.
- Frieda
October 20, 2012 12:28 a.m.
Since early August I have been working with the endocrinologist and nutritionist I was referred to by my Group Health provider. It's Oct. 19, and GHC has denied their application for an insulin pump, which according to the experts that reviewed my case, will dramatically improve my life and health. How frustrating; It's easy to fall into the (-) patterns, esp. the one where I say "every day I don't get my insulin pump = a lifespan shorted by 1 day. Maybe that's irrational, but it's the way I feel.
- Kevin
September 24, 2012 1:42 p.m.
Thanks for your awesome and practical tips on how to break out of negative thinking patterns. I printed them and posted them in my cubical at work and in my car and on the fridge at home. It's never too late for change & we can have as many "overs" in life as we need ... every day is a fresh beginning! Thanks again.
- Linda
September 24, 2012 1:38 p.m.
My heart goes out to Karen, who stated she lost her truck driving job. It sounds like the reason is health-related & maybe diabetes-related? I'm not in the exact same shoes but my job has been effected by changes in my vision, making my job much more difficult. I know how tough it is coping with this disease. There is no end to it. Life changes are required, against our wishes. I hope you reach out, Karen, for support and care and encouragement. I hope you're in a doctor's care and working closely with your diabetes educators / nurses for support and tips on how to cope with a very tough disease. Best wishes to you. I hope things will get a lot better for you!
- Linda
August 20, 2012 11:19 a.m.
A normal fasting blood glucose reading for someone without diabetes is 70-100 mg/dl and genrally two hours post meal meal below 140 mg/dl. Generally eating a normal meal that is moderate portions and low fat the blood glucose will be 70-100 mg/dl four hours post meal in the non diabetic.
- Nancy and Peggy
August 18, 2012 8:50 p.m.
what is the normal reading in morning and what is the normal reading at night.
- maria
August 8, 2012 4:51 p.m.
Just read the :Tip of the Week" and that gives negative feelings because there is nothing I can do and it just makes me mad that they can't come up with something for us who are handicapped!!!!!!!!
- Ferne
August 8, 2012 2:19 p.m.
Any negative thoughts I have are usually a resentment that I have to be careful of things I eat when friends can eat anything they want. My positive self-talk is that I'm comfortable with eating carefully and not needing medicine, which is my reward.
- Carol
August 6, 2012 11:29 p.m.
Im going crazy with the pins and needles going thru my body ... Im taking 1600 of gabapentin numourous times a day... And Im on two diff insulins trying to get my sugar under control , since my sugars are coming down Im not feeling as well... Omg will this never end... Is there any hope .. And to beat it all I lost my job as a truck driver due to cant drive a semi and drive a truck ....;
- Karen
Share on:
10 comments posted