Using Conversation Maps to Reinforce Self-Care

Many people with type 2 diabetes are not able to keep their blood glucose in good control. Improving blood glucose control and maintaining that improvement is important for diabetes patients because doing so delays the onset and progression of severe complications of diabetes. Although educational programs may be helpful, their effect is not always long-lasting. This project is studying whether the Conversation Maps program (an interactive diabetes education program) reinforces diabetes education and information and thus helps type 2 diabetes patients take better care of their diabetes and blood glucose levels. Half of the patients will attend the Conversation Maps program and half of the patients will attend an educational program about blood pressure and cholesterol. Also, all patients will come in for 4 or 5 appointments to complete surveys and other tests and have their blood drawn. The group of patients who attend the Conversation Maps program will be compared to the group of patients who attend the blood pressure and cholesterol program to see if the educational programs helped diabetes patients to improve their diabetes control and quality of life and to maintain that improvement over time.