Dr. Guzman, the clinical director of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute in San Diego, joined us to talk about the intersection of emotions and diabetes. She learned early on in her career as a health psychologist that seldom do patients get to address their emotions in the typical medical care visit. This is a giant gap in treatment! Thus, the connection with diabetes psychologist Dr. William Polonsky (author of Diabetes Burnout) and the birth of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute.

Susan discusses issues particularly challenging to families: negotiating with teens who have diabetes. Who gets control of what, when? She offers great suggestions to relieve inevitable tensions.

She also brings to light the importance of support, and the right (and wrong) kinds of advice and support for living well with diabetes. She referenced the BDI’s “Diabetes Etiquette Card” (available at www.behavioraldiabetes.org) as a great tool for teaching others how to communicate positively without judgment or criticism or fear.

Optimistically, she reminds us that well-controlled diabetes is the leading cause of……Nothing! That’s Transforming news in the world of diabetes, for sure.

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