Welcome to your GSD conversation #2

Unfinished sentences and plans to change lifestyle

First of all, of this is your first activity, please do not be alarmed by #2. It is simply means that your diabetes educator did not feel that conversation #1 would have been useful to you. If you are curious and want to do it anyway, feel free to check it out here.

In this activity, you will be asked to share your experiences, your beliefs and your values in relation to diabetes.

In Part 1 you will be asked to finish the beginning of sentences and statements.

Please respond quickly to the sentence starters that you will encounter in this activity. This will ensure that you do not 'overthink' things. By providing your first response to each phrase, you will allow yourself and your diabetes educator to identify themes, attitudes, or patterns of thought that you may not even have realised you had. This will help initiate rich discussion and get you closer to identify the important challenges you face.

Many of the rules and recommendations for people with diabetes can be difficult to fit into everyday life. This is why in Part 2 your will be invited you to decide what do you want to focus on.

Please remember that there are no right or wrong answers - just answers that are true for you!

Please note that the activity design shown in the video is an old format. The downloadable activity (below) design will look slightly different.

 

Open your Downloads folder to open Conversation+2.docs file, which should contain the following reflection sheet:

About GSD

From research, we know that the GSD method can help adults with diabetes to make changes to their personal circumstances, which enable them to better manage their diabetes.

In the GSD program diabetes educators communicate with their clients in a series of ‘conversations’ over the period of time. Each conversation has a guided structure that assists you to work through the activities alone or/ and together. Your diabetes educator will decide which conversations will be mots useful to you.

However each conversation is delivered as a collaboration between you and your diabetes educator. Below is a remined for the collaboration principles that underpin each conversation.

Invitation to collaborate

What should be the focus of our collaboration?

Something that is currently challenging or difficult for you in everyday life with diabetes.

What is your role and my role?

  • Both yours and my knowledge and experience are necessary.

  • Both of us must be active and utilise our time in the best possible way on aspects we find important

  • Part of the time we will be working separately- and part of the time we will work together

How should we work together?

  • It is OK that you and I perceive your situation differently

  • Disagreeing is OK

  • Having and showing emotions are OK

  • It is necessary that we know each other's opinions

We will use reflection sheets – but what can they be used for?

  • You can use them for reflection and for gaining insight into your situation – in peace and quiet

  • We can use them for gaining a general understanding of what is important in your situation

  • They can make it easier to talk about the more difficult aspects of diabetes

  • They can help you making decisions tailored to your needs and therefore possible to maintain

  • They help us to stay on course.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Information shared in the reflection sheets between you and your diabetes educator stays between you and your diabetes educator and is subject to the data sharing and privacy adopted by their practice.
Deakin University (the creator of this program) will not have access to your answers as you complete reflection sheets.