Diabetes Emotional Distress – Using the 7 A’s Model in Clinical Practice

Practice Points - Diabetes Emotional Distress

In his recent post, Are Clinicians Missing Part of their Patients’ Story?, Garry Welch, Ph.D. described why it is important for clinicians who provide care for people with diabetes to understand what diabetes distress is and how it differs from depression. If depression has been identified properly through a screening tool, clinicians in non—provider roles …



Five Ways Clinicians Can Support a Patient Experiencing Diabetes Distress

Practice Points - Diabetes Emotional Distress

Studies show that approximately 20–45% of patients living with diabetes are emotionally overwhelmed and at risk of disengaging from treatment or becoming depressed. Few doctors are aware of these patient struggles, but “diabetes distress” as it is known clinically, is now recognized as a key “vital sign” by both the Centers for Disease Control and the American Diabetes Association. These rates show that …



Diabetes Emotional Distress – Are Clinicians Missing Part of their Patients’ Story?

Practice Points - Diabetes Emotional Distress

Today, healthcare organizations and clinicians are increasingly asked by payors and employers to improve care quality, reduce gaps in care, and foster patient engagement in treatment. This is part of a growing national emphasis on value-based and whole-person care, particularly for the costly chronic conditions that impact more than 133 million people in the US. …



Helping Patients Get a Good Night’s Sleep

woman sleeping in bed near smartphone

Sleeping regularly and adequately is indispensable for quality of life. Getting a good night’s sleep contributes to feeling rested and refreshed, but so much more happens during sleep. Sleep rejuvenates the cardiovascular and immune systems and regulates the production of the body’s hormones such as leptin and ghrelin. These two hormones control appetite, and when …



Silver Fern Healthcare launches Behavior and Psychosocial Insights Dashboard, harnessing the power of data to enhance population health

Hartford, Conn., July 13, 2021  — Silver Fern Healthcare, a mission-driven SaaS company offering solutions backed by 30 years of evidence-based research to better control and prevent chronic disease and to improve health outcomes, announced the launch of its client-facing Behavior and Psychosocial Insights Dashboard. The Dashboard harnesses data from Silver Fern’s patient assessments to …



Five Foods You Can Tell Your Patients to Reach for in a Convenience Store

Practice Points - Nutrition

At some point in their busy lives, your patients are going to turn to or find themselves in a convenience store to buy food. This will happen occasionally for some patients, such as when they are traveling for vacation or run out of a food staple before the next grocery trip. However, it may be a regular practice for others, often because conveniences stores are, well convenient –  close to …



Four ways we can help patients make dining out a regular part of a healthful diet plan

Practice Points - Nutrition

According to Business Insider, Americans eat out 5.9 times a week on average. That’s an astounding 28% of meals, and we spend a lot of money doing it. Business Insider broke the cost per person down by state, and on the high end, in states like Massachusetts and New York, a person can spend more than $3,500 each year eating out.  There …



Giving Your Patients the Whole Truth About High Blood Pressure

Practice Points - Heart Health

The World Health Organization has declared hypertension a global health crisis. An astounding 45% of adults in the United States have high blood pressure, and it was a primary or contributing cause of death for almost 500,000 people in the United States in 2018 alone.   Yet, many people with hypertension take little heed of it. The …



Five Ways to Help Patients Break Through the “I Don’t Have Time” Barrier to Physical Activity

Practice Points - Heart Health

Sedentary behavior is one of the five risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Physical activity is a boon for heart health as it reduces blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, increases HDL cholesterol, and promotes insulin selectivity. Also, it is a supportive aid to weight loss and an essential one for weight maintenance. Despite these benefits, less than 20% …