Convergent Care: Integrating a Holistic Educational Approach to Diabetes Mellitus Self-Care and Management
Convergent Care: Integrating a Holistic Educational Approach to Diabetes Mellitus Self-Care and Management
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Issue Date
2015
Authors
Stephens, Eileen E.
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Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease highly influenced by the individual's physiology, emotions, social, and environmental variables. Despite scientific advancements in diabetes self-care and management, as well as a highly evolved understanding of disease pathology, disease incidence has paradoxically reached pandemic worldwide proportions. Health outcomes can improve when holistic recognition of the multi-dimensional influences that reside within the totality of self are examined. The Convergent Care Approach proposed in this paper supports integrating holistic principles into standard diabetes educational frameworks. With a thoughtful and systematic facilitation of holistic components that acknowledge the mind, body, and spirit of the person living with diabetes, an awakened consciousness can be discovered. Diabetes wellness requires a comprehensive educational framework in care, and with a focused integration of holistic components, health educators can facilitate improvements in diabetes self-care and management by cultivating an environment of support and respect while simultaneously co-creating a vision of self-discovery and wellness for the person living with diabetes.