“Sweet Talk”/ “Conversación Dulce”
A fun way to learn about Diabetes
“Sweet talk/Conversación Dulce” is a teaching program that empowers people with diabetes or prediabetes to take charge of their self-management. Family members are encouraged to participate in classes that build confidence in managing shopping, cooking, exercise, and stress management. A fun card game rounds out the interactive 3 hours with laughter and comradery.
The “Sweet talk/Conversación Dulce” script and interactive apps were developed at Albany’s InReach Clinic by many GNE and InReach Volunteers. Diabetes Educators coached six premed and pre-PA students to gather evidence-based teaching materials developed by the CDC and American Diabetes Association.
5 Guatemalan nurses from Faith In Practice, Xela Aid and Partners in Development learning the “Conversación Dulce”
The core of the program is short modules of the most important information people with diabetes and their families need to understand. Topics include: What is diabetes, and why it important for you?; Prediabetes; Type 2 diabetes; How to use a glucometer; Common medications used in diabetes management; General Nutrition; The Diabetes Plate and How to plan meals; Exercise and Stress Management to help control blood sugar. The current version is 4 hours of hands on, interactive learning, well suited to adult learners, and enjoyable for the participants, families, and the coaches.
Coaches are community members and do not need special knowledge about diabetes. They guide participants through the modules and lead discussion about the topics. Practical hands-on components encourage a lot of discussion and sharing of stories.
Next for GNE is the scaling up of this innovative and effective way to introduce people with diabetes and their families to self-management. The IHN-CCO in Albany has seen the potential in this model to help people understand diabetes. They have funded GNE to initiate a program at Samaritan Health’s Geary Street Clinic in Albany starting in June 2023. Providers will refer people with diabetes and their families to Sweet Talk. Their knowledge about diabetes before and after the program will be evaluated. The results of the program will be shared. Education material is rarely assessed for effectiveness in health care, and we hope this will be a new model to improve patient education in general.
GNE has also partnered with Faith in Practice in Guatemala. Five nurses have been trained and are now “Conversación Dulce” coaches with the tools to reach people with diabetes in several communities. GNE thanks and recognizes Xela Aid and Partners in Development in this exciting new health education development. We will follow their progress with Zoom meetings every couple of months to assess and improve the program.
After completing the Sweet Talk program, participants walk away empowered to improve their health and manage their diabetes. In the next 6 months we will be collecting data on the effectiveness of the program for our Geary Street participants.
Are you interested in learning more about Sweet Talk? Would you like to become a Diabetes Coach or bring this program to a clinic near you? Contact GNE at info@globalnutritionempowerment.org to learn more.