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Diabetes coach, yes or no?

M

Marjana

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi, everybody.

My friend has just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and she is in huge shock and in need of help and assistance. None of us around her can help her as we know nothing about how to live with diabetes and she claims she can handle it by herself. I was browsing the web looking for some information on the topic and was simply overwhelmed with everything. But I also came across an article and also found some other pages of diabetes coaches and diabetes coaching. Do you think a diabetes coach would be a good thing for a newly diagnosed person with diabetes?
 
I was diagnosed Type 1 way back in the 70s and was left to it with no help whatsoever.

If I'd had a DSN then, it would have made things a lot easier (there was no such thing till the 80s).

The first thing I did was join Diabetes UK (or the British Diabetic Association as it was then) and I found their magazine very helpful.

In the first weeks/months I had many problems which could easily have been solved with a phone call to a DSN, but I had to struggle on alone. I think your friend should ask her DSN for help, rather than have the same struggle I did.
 
Hi Marjana, the best thing your friend could do would to become a member of this forum. I haven't had time to read through the website as it's late and I'm about to go to bed, so can't comment on its pros and cons. This forum will provide answers to nearly all her questions, support and encourage her and it's all for FREE. I'm a newly diagnosed (T1) and don't know how I would have coped without the Forum. Get her to give it a try. She can ask the daftest of questions and someone will always be along to give advice. The members are from all over the world and have a combined wealth of information second to none.
 
I'd say No (although, of course, if anyone wanted to do that, that'd be their decision).

It seems to me a waste of money. Diabetes education is freely available and having a 'coach' just seems weird. Having support is great, but that should come from friends and family, and the person's diabetes team.

There are forums like this, books, online information, etc, that can be used.

Actually, the more I think about it, the more I dislike the coach idea. The only time I think it could be useful is for a specific purpose like training for a sport.
 
I actually believe that a "buddy" system that some hospitals use for new pump persons is good.

However I certainly wouldn't pay for support. There are diabetic meet up groups in hundreds of places normally hospitals or gps or googling can give you info on these..
 
I suspect that the people on here are self-selecting. Those who find it easy to extract information from the internet post or read here.
I suspect there are many diabetics who don't use this site. (Father in law for starters - not been on the internet at all in all his 95 years and unlikely to start now).
I suspect some diabetics, particularly those who are not very web savvy, or lacking literacy skills might well benefit from some kind of buddy system. Ideally this ought to be through the nhs and the practice diabetic nurse. If this means pieces of cake without a proper consideration of the consequences, maybe not. My practice diabetic nurse is already busy and the practice is already running full tilt.
Whether a self appointed "diabetic coach" would help people is another matter. I suspect those most in need of help would be least able to pay.
 
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