FINDING THE THAT WORKS FOR YOU SUPPORT

Everyone’s diabetes journey is unique. Just as there is no single right way to manage your diabetes, the best kind of support will look different for everyone. Family and friends can be great, but sometimes it helps being around people who know firsthand just what you’re going through.

Deborah Schofield, general manager of health services at Diabetes WA, says that peer support comes in many different forms.

“It can be an informal coffee that you have with someone once a week through to a group that you meet with in a structured setting, or it can be an online forum where you chat with other people,” Deborah says. “People shouldn’t feel that there’s one ideal way — however you wish to regularly engage with other people is peer support for you.”

Studies of peer support have shown definite benefits for people living with diabetes, including improved feelings of social and emotional health and improved diabetes self-care. There is a comfort in connecting with like-minded people (who might have more time to talk about diabetes than many health professionals), and a freedom in being able to share experiences, thoughts and feelings without fear of upsetting friends or family.

Diabetes can be a lonely journey for many, particularly those without extensive friend or family networks, but peer support can provide an important sense of connection, as well as allowing people living with diabetes to learn from the experiences and insights of their peers — and inspire each other to improve their quality of life.

While peer support should never replace advice from health professionals, it can help you find “life hacks” that might make living with diabetes feel easier.

The NDSS peer support website, which exists to help people with diabetes find support groups either online or in their local area, identifies four main roles for peer support:

• to improve diabetes self-care through the sharing of useful tips, knowledge and lived experiences from peers

• to offer emotional and social support through listening to peers

• to help peers find and use healthcare systems and community resources

• to offer ongoing support and encouragement to peers.

This support can be particularly beneficial at key transition points on your diabetes journey, such as when you are first diagnosed, changing medications, or trying out an insulin pump.

Deborah says the online support groups can be a great starting point for people who might find it difficult to get along to a face-to-face session — for reasons of distance, time or even shyness.

“The peer support website is a great place to find information on how to find a support group that suits you, or even how you can set up your own support group if you’re keen to do that,”

Deborah says, “and if you run a peer support group or forum that isn’t listed, be sure to apply to have it included so others can find you.

“You can proactively seek support, even if it’s simply being part of an online forum where you can be a fly on the wall and just listen to the chat.”

Along with the peer support groups listed on the peer support website, MyDESMOND – the self-paced online program for type 2 diabetes – has an inbuilt forum where you can chat to others as you progress through the program. Baby Steps online program also has a similar chat forum available for women who have had gestational diabetes so they can share experiences.

“MyDESMOND is a fully self-paced online program where you can chat to others who are also using the program, and the Baby Steps program, for women who have had gestational diabetes, has a dedicated chat forum built in,” Deborah says.

“Some participants have called it a mother’s group for people with gestational diabetes!”

Additionally, anyone who has attended a Diabetes WA DESMOND face-to-face session anywhere in the state can join a special Facebook group where they can chat to peers who have also been through the program.

Deborah says she sees these peer support mechanisms as being an important part of a larger picture of diabetes care that includes services such as the Diabetes Helpline and Telehealth, which allow West Australians living with diabetes to access support when needed.

“Peer support is a great compliment to mainstream care. Quality programs and services provided by Diabetes WA increase your understanding and confidence to manage the challenges of living with diabetes.

Peer support can give a feeling of social support and encouragement beyond this, which can really help with your day to day management of diabetes.

“You don’t always need a health professional to be giving you encouragement and advice. It’s very powerful when it comes from each other.” peersupport.ndss.com.au