Diabetes affects everyone differently, meaning the sort of clinical support and services people need can vary widely, says diabetes educator CATE MITCHELL.

I’m not sure there is a typical day in our diabetes clinic as they can vary so much. But every day is talking to people and listening to stories of their diabetes, whether they are newly diagnosed or have been living with it for a long time.

We do see people who are in their 90s and are still wanting information and support to manage their diabetes. Maybe they just want to refresh or recalibrate or maybe their health is changing and what was working no longer works.

We also see people who are trying to prevent diabetes. The doctor has told them they’re borderline, but they don’t know what that means or what to do about it. It really is just connecting with people wherever they are on their diabetes journey and offering the support that they’ve identified they need.

Everyone I speak to here has helped me on my own journey in supporting people. We have a lot of information about diabetes, but when you hear someone’s own experience of it, what they are battling, how they are succeeding, and listen to them put things in real terms, it’s priceless. That real, lived experience is something you can’t get anywhere else but face-to-face in a clinic. Even group sessions don’t offer that openness, as people tend to be influenced by the other people around them.

My primary role, when I’m initially with a client, is to create a sense of openness where that person can safely share whatever they need to say in a way that leads to real clarity and honesty. Instead of them saying what they think they should say to me, they say what they want to say. I feel like I’m open enough to let them be able to direct the session and I will just support them along the way. I’m not just an educator. I’m a mentor. I’m a confidant. I’m an instructor and guidance counsellor. And I take that responsibility very seriously. A sense of safety is all about listening. I start by asking questions and trying to be open enough to hear the emotion behind what they’re saying, rather than just the words they’re saying.

The real reward is when you see people’s “aha” moments – when somebody recognises that they’re not off track and that they’re not doing everything wrong.

I always ask what they’ve come for, what their specific goals are and how they see me being able to help them with that. People don’t always know. They’ll say, “My doctor told me to come here”. But that means something in itself, because it’s telling me that this person is on the first step of their journey. So maybe this is the time to make sure that first step is taken with somebody holding their hand, so they’re not alone.

I can easily change that into “Okay, so these are some things that we can talk about, are any of them of interest to you?” Once you’ve created that openness, you can move quickly onto how to make sure your glucose levels are where they should be – and what they should be.

I feel the listening component is being able to pick up the nuances of what the real issues are or the real barriers. People with diabetes are so used to thinking that they’ve done something wrong, they actually forget that sometimes they’re succeeding well beyond their own expectations. It’s surprising what a difference it makes when people start to think that they’re not a failure, that they’re actually succeeding. They go away with an extra drive to make some other small changes.

Recently, I spoke to a client who was newly diagnosed and we spent that first consultation just making sure that they had an understanding of what was happening in their body. After that very first appointment, he sent me an email that said, “I’m so glad that I got to have my first educator session with you.”

The real reward is when you see people’s “aha” moments – when somebody recognises that they’re not off track and that they’re not doing everything wrong. Now they know what they can change. They understand something that they haven’t been able to understand for a long time.

It’s so rewarding when a client says to you, “I was ready to give up and now I’m not”. Who wouldn’t want that in their day-to-day job?

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Diabetes WA clinic
Compassionate diabetes care with ongoing support tailored to your needs.

The Diabetes WA Clinic is a non-judgmental space for you to discuss any questions or concerns you have around your diabetes to help you self-manage your health journey. The clinic can assist with:

• insulin pump start-ups and problem solving
• blood glucose monitoring
• starting and adjusting insulin
• starting new medication
• dietary adjustments
• diabetes prevention
• body weight management
• continuous glucose monitor (CGM) start-ups and problem solving
• other aspects of diabetes care and management.

You are welcome to bring a friend or support person to your appointment. One-on-one appointments are available both online via telehealth and face-to-face at our Subiaco location with a credentialled diabetes educator, dietitian or exercise physiologist.

Discounts are available to Diabetes WA members. You may be eligible for a Medicare rebate. Please discuss with your GP prior to your appointment.

Department of Veteran Affairs subsidy is available for Gold and eligible White Card Holders with a GP referral.

Arrange an appointment

To arrange an appointment for yourself or for a family member, please book with HotDoc or complete the Client Intake Form (available on our website) and email it to clinic@diabeteswa.com.au

Phone (08) 9436 6290 | Mon–Fri 8.30am–4.30pm