Stop the Confusion: How to Understand Diabetes Care

The 4 Factors of Diabetes will help everyone with diabetes find balance in this diet-crazed world!

Megrette Fletcher M.Ed., RDN, CDCES creator of Inclusive Diabetes Care

Whether you learned about diabetes today or 10 years ago, understanding the ever-changing world of diabetes takes time. Our busy lives can make learning about even more challenging. What if you could learn and organize your knowledge so it made sense? 

That was the question I asked when I created the Four Factors of Diabetes.  As a diabetes care and education specialist and a registered dietitian with 30 years of experience, I understand how overwhelming and confusing prediabetes and diabetes care can be.

The larger problem is diabetes care has been oversimplified, preventing you from finding balance and crafting a sustainable plan to manage your blood sugars.  I know caring for your diabetes isn’t your life's purpose, but it is the step that helps you live a full and vibrant life!

Learning about the four factors of diabetes can help. Let’s start by understanding and defining what they are. They are four areas - Dietary, Lifestyle, Medical, and Environmental - your healthcare team can adjust to help you manage your blood sugar. 

They are represented in the image as overlapping circles, known as a Venn diagram. This short video can help you understand more about the Four Factors. 

Having your learning organized helps you see the big picture and keeps you centered and balanced. You don’t need to go to extremes to improve your blood sugar. The heart of good diabetes care is a balanced and sustainable plan! No Weight Loss Required!

What To Change When You Have Diabetes?

You are ready to make some changes to your diet to improve your overall blood sugar levels. Congratulations on taking the first step. Maybe you are thinking of cutting out carbs, eating brown rice, or swearing off dessert. Whatever you decide, most of us try to make a change by issuing a decree, “I won’t do XYZ!” or “I can’t have dessert anymore!” and because of this approach, something strange happens.

It’s Time to Talk about “IT”

Making a commitment and telling yourself what to do seems as if it would work. It ‘should’ work, right? Yet, what do you find when you pause and ask yourself if it did? I bet it really didn’t result in lasting change. If it did, why are you reading this article? Changing your diet is confusing and hard. Do you want to know why? Over the years, I have come to understand a secret about change, and it is time to talk about “IT.” Don’t worry, “IT” isn’t contagious or something wrong, “IT” stands for your inner teenager. 

Everyone has an “IT,” and when you think back to your teenage years, you might cringe or smile. Your inner teenager is an important part of who you are. You don’t want to get rid of “IT,” and you know from experience yelling at “IT” doesn’t work either. 

Coming Alongside “IT”

I understand (and love) the inner teenager and want to help you come alongside “IT.”   As a diabetes care and education specialist, I understand questions guide learning. This is why the No Weight Loss Required Program is designed to guide you versus tell you what to do. 

The No Weight Loss Required newsletter provides a unique approach to end your confusion by breaking knowledge into understandable segments.  Paid subscribers will get some short, fun, and engaging videos to help you feel confident about caring for your elevated blood sugar.