Perspectives on Diabetes Care

Implementing Inclusive, Person-Centered Care in Your Practice

Jun 21, 2021, 07:03 AM

By Lisa Golden, MA.Ed.HD, CRC, CDCES
Betsy Rodriguez, MSN
Britt Rotberg, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, BC-ADM

What do we as diabetes care and education specialists mean when we say that we provide person-centered and inclusive services? Person-centered care is a philosophy of service provision where services are maximally responsive to an individual’s unique needs, values and preferences. Whether you work in a hospital, community clinic, residential treatment facility, recognized or accredited diabetes program, school, adult care center, outpatient behavioral health clinic, health insurance provider, or private practice, you’re likely using person-centered approaches every day.

Across fields, care professionals are moving away from an institutional, task-oriented approach and towards more holistic methods that honor the individual in care. Person-centered care creates a positive feedback loop between people with diabetes or prediabetes and clinical staff. It allows person-focused communication that leads to positive behavior and responses.

Sometimes the people we serve live very different lives than the one we are most familiar with. They may speak different languages, identify with different racial or ethnic groups or live with a disability. There are many factors to consider when providing inclusive person-centered care: race or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education level, sexual orientation, disabilities, or access to the necessary resources. We must also consider their age, size, food security, support system, insurance coverage, and the impact of the pandemic when accounting for their abilities and barriers to quality diabetes self-care.

ADCES21 is an opportunity to learn more about the needs, concerns and best practices when working with individuals. Understand what dignity, compassion and respect looks like through their eyes. Build skills to coordinate culturally appropriate care, education and support to individualize care beyond addressing their conditions.

The inclusive, person-centered care education track at ADCES21 will help diabetes care and education specialists:

1. Recognize the origin of barriers and challenges for people with diabetes.
2. Learn ways to individualized interventions.
3. Discuss how to advocate for equal access for diverse individuals with diabetes.
4. Honor individuality while using a person-centered care approach.  

Key sessions include:

• Spanish for Diabetes Care and Education Specialists to Enable Key Conversations.
• Exploring New Research: Reaching Vulnerable Populations.
• Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Diabetes-Related Lower Extremity Complications.
• Debating Weight: Ethical Considerations in an FQHC Diabetes Prevention Program.
• How Community Health Workers Address Food Insecurity and Social Support.
• Help People with Diabetes and Disabilities Use Adaptive Technologies.
• Group DSMES for At-Risk Populations during COVID-19: Virtual, Partnered and Interprofessional.
• Medications, Technology and Behavior Change for Older Adults With Diabetes.
• It Takes a Village! Community Centered Approach to Equity.
• Adopt A Fresh Point of View: A Solution-Focused Approach to the ADCES7 Self-Care Behaviors™.
• Evidence-Based Responses to Questions About Type 2 Diabetes Reversal.
• Create Exercise Programs for People with Diabetes Who Have Limited Physical Abilities and Large Bodies.
• Strategies to Promote Physical Activity Among African American Women.
• Language in Diabetes Care from a Personal and Professional Perspective.
• Providing Culturally Competent Care for African Americans With Diabetes.
• Innovating, Engaging and Retaining Latino/x Participants During COVID-19.
• Exploring New Research: Health Disparities Panel Discussion.
• Steps to Become Food Sovereign: The Ho-Chunk Experience.
• Diabetes Stigma: Causes and Consequences for the Concerned Clinician.

By utilizing an inclusive method of care, we can assist the individual in identifying their personal values and supporting their decisions which leads to positive diabetes and cardiometabolic outcomes. Take a little time to assess your own education needs while exploring the opportunities in this track. Browse the full education schedule at ADCES21 and register today.