Imagine_David, Author at Diabetes Counselling Online

Quality of Life

November 12, 2013 by Imagine_David 1 Comment

Recently one of my clients told me their health was good. I’d just done a 45 minute health assessment with them.

They couldn’t walk to the shops (600m from home) – so short of breath because of heart failure; they had some kidney damage caused by diabetes and high blood pressure; they had fallen 3 times in the past 12 months, due to peripheral neuropathy.

So, what makes a person like this, one we might think has health far from ‘good’, consider themselves to be in good health?

This self assessment intrigued me. I asked if we explore this ‘good health’.

The positives in their life included a loving partner 10 years younger able to do many things as a carer for my client; 3 small grandchildren that stayed in the house twice a week providing a happy family environment for storytelling and games of cards; a trip to the local club once a week for a meet up with long term friends of over 30 years.

Sometimes we – health professionals – are blinded by our role: assess health as we see it. The problems that need to be treated rather than assessing a person as a whole bio-psycho-socio-sprirtual being. Sometimes we focus so much on the negatives, we forget to ask ‘whats good in your life?’ or ‘how do YOU rate your health at present?’.

Finding the positives (but not ignoring the negatives), seeing the whole person, is something to do with quality of life.

Definitions for Quality of life**

Table 1 shows the dimensions of the quality of life, as defined in the SF-36 survey/tool.

Table 1: Dimensions of quality of life in the SF-36
Dimension	Definition of lowest score (poor quality of life)	Definition of highest score (good quality of life)
Physical functioning	Very limited in performing all physical activities, including bathing or dressing	Performs all types of physical activities including the most vigorous, without limitations due to health
Role physical	Problems with work or other daily activities as a result of physical health	No problems with work or other daily activities
Bodily pain	Very severe and extremely limiting pain	No pain or limitations because of pain
General health	Evaluates personal health as poor and believes it is likely to get worse	Evaluates personal health as excellent
Vitality	Feels tired and worn out all of the time	Feels full of pep and energy all of the time
Social functioning	Extreme and frequent interference with normal social activities because of physical and emotional problems	Performs normal social activities without interference because of physical or emotional problems
Role emotional	Problems with work or other daily activities as a result of emotional problems	No problems with work or other daily activities
Mental health	Feelings of nervousness and depression all of the time	Feels peaceful, happy, and calm all of the time

**Table from http://www.aihw.gov.au/diabetes-indicators/quality-of-life/

How do you rate your health today? What makes an impact on your quality of life?

Maybe consider that ext time you visit your health care provider, as to complete a Quality of Life Assessment.

And enjoy life by having a focus on the positives

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Fit for 50 – by Greg Chappell

November 5, 2013 by Imagine_David Leave a Comment

Fit for 50+ is a unique beginner-friendly fitness program designed for men in middle-age.Men in their fifties are becoming increasingly concerned about their declining flexibility, lack of energy and the risks a lack of exercise brings of suffering osteoporosis, type II diabetes, cancer and heart disease.Fit for 50+ is an exercise program suited to the middle-aged man. It includes aerobic, weight-bearing, strength training and stretch exercises. It is realistic, appropriate and a balanced exercise regimes.Extend your middle age by twenty years, it will be a life worth living!

WHAT THE PRESS SAYS
“Chappell claims that he is healthier today than when he was competing as an international cricketer. Written in his characteristic no-nonsense style, this book urges men in their 50s to be regular with aerobics, walking, stretch exercises and a balanced diet to extend the middle age by twenty years.”
— G Srinivasan, DNA

“If you admire the form of Greg Chappell, feisty former Australian cricketer and coach to the Indian cricket team, you might want to learn what keeps this 58-year-old in what he considers to be better shape that what he was in during his days as a world-class batsman…this book is useful for anyone who’d like to remain fit and active through middle age, well into old age.”
— The New Sunday Express

A short version / extraction of this book is titled:

Fit for 50+: Exercises for men who want to live well longer

“I found this book entertaining, motivating and an easy read.

Practical advice from a well respected Aussie, who states that he is fitter now than when he was playing cricket at an international level!

Although 140 pages long, the print is large, and about 50 pages contain diagrams of simple stretching and strengthening exercises.

It is quite suitable for men who already have health problems such as heart disease or diabetes and wish to find some motivation to get into an exercise program to help manage their health.

There is hope for us all to achieve a level of fitness that matches the quality of life we would like to lead.

Like most things, having a good state of mind relating to exercise is a good start. If you don’t have a good attitude towards exercise, Greg may change it with this simple but positive approach”. Diabetes Educator, David Mapletoft

**Disclaimer: this book is a suggested read only; information in it should be used together with health advice from your appropriately qualified health professional

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Change: A Challenge for Everybody

October 15, 2013 by Imagine_David Leave a Comment

What would you like to change? How can you? Do you have someone close who can support you? If you do not have someone close, then maybe using the community here at Diabetes Counselling Online to garner support would work for you.

Here is a tool from the DAWN (Diabetes Attitudes Wishes and Needs Study that may help you along your journey.

“Your Plans to Change Your Way of Living

‘Your plans to change your way of living’ is one of 20 reflection sheets developed as a major part of a decision making method called Guided Self-Determination (GSD). GSD has been tested by nurses and people with type 1 diabetes and persistent poor glycaemic control both in one-to-one setting and in group training. Both qualitative evaluation and a randomized controlled trial confirmed the impact of GSD on people’s life skills and A1C.

To overcome the barriers to change

The recommended way of living with diabetes comprises many aspects, and each person with diabetes meets unique challenges in daily life to integrate those recommendations. Changing way of living is hard, but research based on ‘self-determination theory’ has confirmed that internal motivation facilitates accomplishment and maintenance of change.

The need to change will depend on nature and numbers of recommendations yet not integrated. Readiness to change depends on the person’s own judgment and choice and can be pictured by themselves and others through their answer to questions about if and when they want to integrate recommendations yet not integrated.”

Follow the link for the tool and more about it …..

DAWN_Your plans to change your way of life_example

If you would like some help with it, just ask. Also, it would be interesting to see what you think of it.

Safe Journey

David Mapletoft

Diabetes Educator @ Diabetes Counselling Online

http://www.diabetescounselling.com.au

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Men’s Health Checklist

October 8, 2013 by Imagine_David 2 Comments

Here’s a checklist for general health – men, download and complete, then take this to your GP for a chat about having a general health checkup. Some of the checks may already be happening. BUT it is also possible to have things overlooked if your GP is focussed so intently on diabetes.

mens health questionaire from hawkesbury

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Do What You Do – Do Well

October 1, 2013 by Imagine_David 3 Comments

What do you do well? What skills do you have? What’s in your diabetes self- management plan that you do to help yourself stay well?

Our lives are full of stuff. Sometimes we don’t stop and take that step back from our life to assess what’s working and what isn’t.

We all have strengths and weaknesses. Have you taken the time to consider your strengths lately?

If you were to ask the person who knows you best e.g. your partner or your mum – what do you think they would list as your top 4 strengths?

In my practice I often see clients who have not taken a breathe since being diagnosed with diabetes. They don’t now what’s going right, and what’s going wrong. They just can’t seem to put their finger on the problem.

Consider taking some time out this week. Find a quiet place away from the world, and make some notes. Notes for yourself. Not for your doctor or your dietitian or your diabetes educator.

Ask yourself these questions: What am I doing well? What skills do I have? What’s in my diabetes self-management plan that does help me to stay well? What else can I do to manage my health well?

Without a good knowledge base, a comprehensive understanding of diabetes, it’s very difficult to be effective. Ask questions. Do you take a list of questions along to your health professional appointments? Maybe you could try this next time you visit.

If you feel you have a good knowledge base, and a safe and effective diabetes self-management plan, what would you advise others?

Many years ago I had a client say to me “ I don’t want to be ‘supported’ – but I’m happy to support others travelling this same journey.

Diabetes self-management is such a huge challenge it can also be emotionally overwhelming.

If you’d like some guidance or support from one the team, or if you’d like to support others in our forums, pop on over @ http://www.diabetescounselling.com.au/counselling-and-diabetes-education/

David Mapletoft

Diabetes Educator

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