Better client outcomes and job satisfaction.

Background: 

Vietnam veteran with recent T2 Diabetes Melitus diagnosis, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia with complex psychosocial issues adding to stress.

The practitioner saw the patient in the context of developing a GP Diabetes Management Plan. The patient was shocked and overwhelmed to receive a diagnosis of diabetes from his GP and had low confidence in being able to make the required changes to his lifestyle. HbA1c was 9.5% (poor control) at diagnosis. This dropped to 5.8% (normal control) at his 6-month review, with BMI dropping from 28 to 23 during this time.

How the clinician used HeathChange® Methodology(HCM): 

The clinician provided information about the impact of making some small lifestyle changes to help control his diabetes and the relationship between stress and blood glucose levels was also discussed. As the client was ambivalent about adopting regular physical activity, the shared decision-making technique of RICk-focused Decisional Balance was used to help him identify his intrinsic motivators which were a strong commitment to his young family and vulnerable wife. The clinician was then able to help the client set the short-term goal of walking home with his kids from school and address the barriers that were impacting on his confidence to do this regularly. The client was successful with achieving this goal and went on to make other changes independently which contributed to the improved clinical results at the 6-month review.