Have you been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted or frustrated when supporting your loved one with diabetes? As a type 1 diabetes caregiver, you do so much.

Like the current of a mighty river, your efforts are often unseen, but always present. Like that strong current, you’re constantly helping your T1D warrior carve and shape his or her path along the diabetes journey.

Diabetes demands a lot from the entire family. There are many unglamorous moments and waves of emotions. If you’ve been feeling a bit burnt out lately, you’re not alone.

In fact, a 2023 cross-sectional study examined 125 type 1 diabetes caregivers. Amongst these caregivers, higher levels of both stress and loneliness were reported. Luckily, there is an incredible and transformative resource to help you navigate the challenges type one diabetes brings. It comes in the form of health coaching.

In today’s post, I’ll be highlighting the top five ways health coaching can help transform your type 1 diabetes journey from a place of fear to empowerment. Let’s dive in!

1. Health coaching is rooted in partnership

As a health coach, I recognize and honor that you are the expert in your life. This coaching philosophy may surprise many people, but it’s the bedrock to a successful partnership. Health coaches will never demand or force you to take a certain action. Rather than tell you what to do, coaches take a collaborative approach by asking questions – lots of questions!

These questions help us gain clarity and understanding to what challenges you’ve been facing, where your greatest strengths lie, and areas you’d like to change.

Gone are the days of feeling dismissed or judged. I hope this hasn’t been your experience, but I’ve felt unimportant and rushed during one too many doctor visits. Health coaching is a long-term partnership where your needs take center stage. It’s about you, and your family.

When it comes to health coaching, think of the analogy of a mirror. Through the use of powerful coaching questions, coaches help reflect back the behaviors, attitudes, habits and beliefs you hold. With greater awareness, we can then work together to identify what behaviors and beliefs you’d like to hold onto and what needs to go.

2. Health coaching takes an integrative approach

If I were to ask you “what does health mean to you?”, what would you say? Would your definition change based on the day, or your mood, or what’s going on at home?

My definition of health is always growing and expanding based on my season of life. Coaches understand that no two people are the same. Rather, there are many complex factors that contribute to a happy, healthy life.

I have been supporting my husband on his type 1 diabetes journey for almost a decade. I’ve seen a lot and understand that diabetes is complex. There are so many life factors that can influence positive diabetes outcomes. Along our journey, I’ve seen that health is truly interconnected.

For example, if your T1D warrior is having a challenging day with their blood sugar, as a fierce and protective T1D mama, you’re going to feel that too. Humans are multifaceted creatures and our approach to health should be no different. Working with a health coach, you can begin to examine all facets that impact your health and wellbeing.

Here at Type Won™ Coaching, we focus on four pillars in particular – mindset, food, supportive lifestyle choices (like sleep and movement) and teamwork. These four pillars of health can have an instrumental impact on helping families find greater balance, joy and peace along their type 1 diabetes journey.

3. Health coaching provides accountability

How many times have you tried to make a change only to beat yourself up when the goal wasn’t achieved? Health coaches are trained behavior change specialists. Coaches are masters in helping you identify the appropriate steps to achieve your desired goals. We also hold you accountable to your goals in a way that feels good to you!

When I work with clients, one of the first questions I ask is how they prefer to share progress. Do clients prefer tracking momentum using a worksheet or verbally speaking about their success? Rather than keeping your efforts to yourself, health coaches are there to check in.

Coaches also help you identify how to overcome hurdles. One of the biggest hurdles I see is how we speak to ourselves. As a type 1 diabetes caregiver, you’re juggling a lot. When you falter or find it difficult to change a habit, it’s easy to have a negative mindset.

But rather than beating ourselves up, health coaches help you reframe limiting beliefs. Health coaching helps you get back up, celebrate your strengths and keep moving towards your goals. Coaching is all about embracing forward progress and change.

4. Health coaching is super creative

As I earned my Master of Arts in Integrative Health and Wellbeing Coaching, I had countless opportunities to experience coaching as both the coach and client. This really helped me gain an understanding and appreciation for how transformative coaching can be.

One of my biggest takeaways was how much creativity is fostered in coaching sessions. Whenever we face a challenge, like type 1 diabetes, it can be easy to get stuck in patterns that are difficult to change.

Health coaches help change those pattens through the use of creative exercises – like writing, role playing or visualization. The creative toolkit is endless!

5. Health coaches can compliment your T1D care team

The average endocrinologist can see between 20-30 patients a day. That results in a very busy practice! Therefore, there is an incredible opportunity for health coaches, who are graduates from a National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching accredited program, to support diabetes care.

Health coaches are not medical practitioners. We do not diagnose, treat or provide medical advice of any kind. We can however serve as an incredible extension to your T1D care team.

The expertise of health coaches lies in supporting you beyond your doctor’s office. Health coaching is a long-term partnership and commitment. Type Won Coaching programs are eight weeks long. As your coach, this timeframe allows me to understand challenges you face, desired changes and allows lasting transformation to occur.

Many health coaches also collaborate directly with your type 1 diabetes care team. For example, say your doctor wants your T1D child to incorporate more daily movement. Rather than determining a plan on your own, turn to the support of a health coach.

In this scenario, a coach could help you craft a SMART goal surrounding movement. SMART goals stand for – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. By providing more structure and organization, health coaches help clients meet their goals in a way that feels best for them. Remember, you are always in the driver’s seat!

The Bottom Line

Health coaches are committed to helping their clients succeed on their own terms. The partnership is based on trust, accountability and encouragement. For every coaching client, my goal is to create a safe and non-judgmental space. When we feel truly seen and heard, incredible transformations can occur.

If coaching sounds like the perfect fit for you, please feel free to email me at hello@typewoncoaching.com or send an inquiry here and I will follow-up shortly regarding next steps.

Thank you again for reading! Until next time, sending love to you and your family!

Allee