This workshop title, in fact, arises from an assumption that people need to change. Yet, both providers and people living with diabetes often view change as more of an elusive dream than a predictable reality. The difficulties inherent in change are not unique to diabetes, but are part and parcel of what it means to be human. In fact, Mead was right. Changing ingrained behaviors IS difficult especially when there is an attempt to effect that change from the outside.
People act to achieve their own goals or solve their own perceived problems.
Just because we may see a patient s food choices, weight, testing frequency or general sense of urgency about diabetes as problematic, does not mean that change in those behaviors or beliefs is either necessary or likely. Participants in this workshop will work together to identify selected behavioral challenges from their practice. These cases will then be reviewed in light of both ineffective and effective strategies directed at helping patients change. Change is NOT always necessary to achieve either clinical or quality of life goals. But when it is, we travel a smoother road when the impetus for change arises in the patient rather than the provider.