Our EMPOWERed Approach to Diabetes
We host unique and innovative Programs online and Experiences world-wide in order to address the top challenges facing diabetics including: 1) daily movement 2) decision-making 3) self-management 4) quality of life & 5) continuous support.
Diabetes is one of the most threatening diseases of the 21st century, with the disease and its treatment strongly associated with individuals' health behavior and their lifestyle.
According to a Provider survey, of the patients who are managing their condition poorly, the following are the major contributing factors: 1) Poor diet, 2) Disregard for their condition, 3) Low levels of physical, 4) Lack of understanding of condition, 5) Lack of support network 6) Mental health issues or lack of mental health support.
Studies have shown that when people with diabetes manage their disease better, they stay healthier.
Providers often struggle to give the recommended level of diabetes care within the constraints of a busy office setting. Our healthcare system is designed to deliver acute, symptom-driven care, it is poorly configured to effectively treat chronic diseases such as diabetes that require the development of a collaborative daily self-management plan.
Diabetes education together with personal empowerment has shown to be key to effective self-management behavior.
Strong preliminary data collected from other sites suggests that individual empowerment programs are effective at reducing hemoglobin A1C after 12 months and in reducing the total cost of care.
Our programs exist to provide evidence-based experiences focused on strength-based techniques, leadership and skill building which empower individuals to curate and execute their own plan, tools and help for dealing with chronic pain, fear, stress, and other physical, and/or emotional challenges that come with managing their unique situation.
When delivered through a blended approach of both in-person experiences as well as online, via information and communication technologies (ICT), these solutions lead to better health outcomes.
OUR APPROACH TO DIABETES
We believe in an “empowered” approach to diabetes daily management.
Empowerment is a process whereby we gain the necessary knowledge to influence our own behavior to improve the quality of our lives through a series of memorable and impactful experiences.
It is carried out in five stages: (1) identify the problem, (2) explain the feelings and meanings, (3) build a plan, (4) act, and (5) experience and assess the execution.
Empowerment is more than an intervention, technique, or strategy; it is a vision to help us change our behavior and make decisions beneficial to our health.
The overall aim of empowerment is to provide us with critical thinking skills and the ability to make autonomous, informed decisions. Furthermore, empowerment facilitates and supports our reflection on our unique experience of living with diabetes.
Reflection occurring in the presence of positive relationships (which is characterized by psychological safety, warmth, cooperation, and respect) is essential for independent, positive changes in behavior, emotions, and attitude.
Our programs will allow participants to access the plan, tools, and help they need to become active participants of self-care.
The potential of empowerment is huge; our goal is to change the behavior of not only for us as individuals, but also entire populations, communities, and societies.
CHALLENGES WE SOLVE
The serious and chronic nature of diabetes, the complexity of its management, and the multiple daily (and daunting!) self-care decisions that diabetes requires mean that adhering to a predetermined care program is generally not adequate over the course of a person's life with diabetes.
This is particularly true when the self-management plan has been designed to fit individuals' diabetes, but has not been tailored to fit their priorities, goals, resources, culture, and lifestyle.
To manage diabetes successfully, we must be able to set goals, develop new habits, and make frequent daily decisions that are both effective and fit our values and lifestyles, while taking into account multiple physical, emotional and nutritional factors.
Intervention strategies that enable us to make decisions about goals, therapeutic options, and self-care behaviors and to assume responsibility for daily diabetes care are effective in helping us care for ourselves.
COMMUNITY and NETWORKING
Returning to daily life after such experiential adventures and impactful programs can cause us to feel isolated and unsupported.
Building and maintaining a personal community and network is crucial for maintaining wellness and continuing our empowered approach to diabetes daily management.
Understanding how to navigate and leverage private, online platforms, both new and existing, will allow our us to continue to connect with the tools, resources, mentors and others with shared experiences.
Online and on-the-ground mentors will help individuals stay on track and motivated to continue the progress started during their time with COURAGEndures.