A Behind-the-Scenes Look at my Diabetes Coaching Method

As a registered nurse, certified diabetes care and education specialist, and board certified nurse coach, I’m always asked about what it is I do for people with diabetes. How can I help you in a way that a health coach cannot? Or in a way that is different from your endocrinology appointments?

Here’s a little behind the scenes leak into what a session with a CDCES nurse coach looks like.

The first questions I ask…

I always start with this question to help my client clarify what their goals are in the first place and how we can get there.

How is diabetes getting in the way?

Is it taking up all of your thoughts? Keeping you from traveling or exercising? Once we identify how diabetes is negatively impacting our day-to-day lives, we can start figuring out how to tackle those problems.

Mindset shifts

I hate to be harping on this SO much, but we must examine our thoughts and try to shift them to a more non-judgmental and natural view. I guarantee you will NOT move forward if your brain is thinking thoughts like this:

“I’m so fat. I shouldn’t have eaten those tacos last night.”

Or

“My blood sugar is so high! Why can’t I get this right?”

As a CDCES and BC-NC, I’m continually looking for these underlying questions and thoughts. My clients eventually become more mindful and aware of the thoughts they’re having and learn the tools they need to reframe those thoughts.

Knowledge gaps

As my client is practicing mindfulness, we then move on to figuring out the “diabetes and health education” part of things. Maybe my client would like to learn how to basal test or how to use their insulin more effectively. This is completely client-driven.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have lived with diabetes for decades, there is always something to learn.

Follow up

Sessions happen throughout the month as the client feels they are needed. We follow up on the goals we set previously, continue to examine our thought processes and any knowledge gaps, and we come up with a plan to move forward.

We don’t always talk about diabetes specifically! My clients have lots of different health goals. I’m here to help them navigate and reach those goals alongside their diabetes.

Here’s a testimonial from one of my clients describing how she felt after we worked together:

My mindset and self-talk around diabetes are so much better than they were before working with Rachel! I am more aware of the way I am thinking about my management and now have tools to approach my management in a kinder way. I now have a way of prioritizing exercise in my day and I feel confident to have consistent diabetes check-ins with myself to make adjustments to my management, which previously felt like a daunting task that I avoided!

Could you use this type of guidance?

Do you believe this is something that would be helpful for you? Apply to meet with me here. I’m happy to talk more about your goals and how I can help you reach them.