4 comments

1. 

   Oct 01, 2011

   I conduct a diabetes support group once a month at the hospital based clinic. It is a small group. They proudly call it their meeting and everybody in the clinic refer to it as such. My oficial name for it is "Living with Diabetes". This group see each other as a family. Yes they share their daily struggle and excitements with diabetes. They exchange phone numbers and remind each other of their meeting date. They look forward to their meeting. I encourage them to decide the topic for the day which sometimes is different from what I planned for them. Most of the time they insist I decide . I use the AADE7 as a guide. The important thing to note is that the class is for the participants not for the moderator. This means that the participants use the forum to vent their frustrations/ struggle with their chronic condition and learn from each other. The moderator offer suggestions, correct misconceptions, offer emotional support, and practical approach to self-management of chronic conditions. In the class they have unwritten rule that each person should verbalize their concerns and participate in group activites. It is realy very rewarding to moderate the class.
2. 

   Sep 29, 2011

   I have used the AADE7™ Self-Care Behaviors Handouts to start conversations. The Quick thought and Activities usually are enough to generate lively discussion.
3. 

   Sep 26, 2011

   Having run numerous support groups over the years, I find that those in the groups really do like to connect, converse and feel like they are not alone. I begin by inviting everyone to introduce themselves and share their experiences and feelings about diabetes, and what they would like to learn more about. By the end of the group sessions, they feel like they not only have learned, but have made some new friends. I also bring a lot of visual props with me and minimize paper/handouts. If I use powerpoints, I use mostly photos or pictures, minimize words and make these talking points, not a reading exercise. And family/friends are always invited.
4. 

   Sep 26, 2011

   I have conducted three support groups; two adult and one pediatric. My first support group wanted me to teach them at each meeting and expected me to prepare the meeting for them. As I became more experienced I encouraged the participants to plan the meetings, determine the content, and participate in the discussions. Eventually I was able to guide them toward self-ownership of the meetings and discussions. I became more of a resource than a teacher. They got more out of the meetings and it was more enjoyable for all of us. The next two groups I led I started from scratch. Having some experience, I developed a much better format from the beginning. It takes time for the group to develop but once it does they are a great source of help for one another. One of the hardest parts of moving to another state was leaving the support groups behind. We had become very close to one another.