Building Competency in Diabetes Education THE ESSENTIALS

CHANGES ACROSS THE LIFESPAN| 4-3

OBJECTIVES

Completion of this chapter should enable the learner to do the following: 1. Discuss some of the unique challenges of managing diabetes across the lifespan. 2. Discuss potential individual responses to a diagnosis of diabetes (grief cycle), as well as those of family members. 3. Recognize several psychosocial challenges related to diabetes across the lifespan. 4. Discuss age appropriate interventions to cope with the challenges of diabetes. 5. Describe the role of a support system in the coping process. 6. Describe the effects of stress on blood glucose. 7. Discuss strategies to reduce stress in diabetes management.

“With each milestone in life, a new aspect of living with diabetes is revealed” (1).