Diabetes is an epidemic disease, especially type 2 diabetes. Two factors are primarily responsible for this: obesity and aging. Given the prevalence of obesity in the industrialized societies of the world and the North American baby boom, the expected rise in the rates of diabetes over the next 15-20 years has been described by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada as “the perfect storm”.

The dominant model of managing type 2 diabetes is called the self-management model. This emphasizes the importance of the behaviour of the individual living with diabetes. As such, behaviour change is an issue that has relevance for the vast majority of individuals living with diabetes as well as the healthcare providers supporting them. The behaviours associated with improved control include medication/insulin adherence, smoking cessation, healthy eating, physical activity, weight management, stress management and ongoing health monitoring (eye care and foot care).

Unfortunately psychosocial issues that impede behaviour change are common and psychosocial resources to help manage these issues are scarce. As a result we have developed a manual that is intended to be a guide to the healthcare provider.

Click on the link below to access the manual

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxD9JBQO0O7UN2l1MEN5QjNabFk/edit?usp=sharing