New Beginnings: A Discussion Guide for Living Well with Diabetes

(Based on Themes from the The Debilitator film)

This discussion guide from the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) was developed to expand on themes and educational opportunities brought out in The Debilitator, a public television docudrama developed by independent film company Millennium Filmworks. This film is about Calvin Dixon, an African American man with neglected diabetes who dreams that he dies of a heart attack. The dream prompts him to share his fears with his family and to accept their help in taking action to control his diabetes. The film and guide focus on an often overlooked aspect of diabetes—the impact that emotions can have on how people give and receive information about diabetes, whether they seek help, and, ultimately, what influences them to take action to control or prevent diabetes. The guide is intended to help facilitate discussion by providing stimulus questions, group and individual exercises, and role-playing experiences. For more information on how you can use this guide, check out the Frequently Asked Questions section.

For information on borrowing or purchasing The Debiliator film, click here.

Since the guide is 10MB in size, we are providing the guide as individual sections for easier opening and downloading. We have also provided links to the various handouts referenced, but not included, in the guide. To open the entire guide in PDF format, click here. Note: the guide is designed for two-sided printing. To obtain a copy of the New Beginnings guide from the National Diabetes Education Program, call 1-800-438-5383 or visit www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/catalog.htm#PubsOrg for a free downloadable version.

New Beginnings: A Discussion Guide for Living Well with Diabetes
Note: the sections listed below are designed for two-sided printing.

Covers and Disclaimer

Table of Contents

Introduction

How to Use This Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Session One. Overview: The Debilitator

Session Two. What’s Going On in the Family

Session Three. Be Smart About Your Heart: Know Your ABCs

Session Four. Every Day is a New Beginning

Session Five. Diabetes Detection: Could I Have Diabetes Right Now and Not Know It

Session Six. You Can Be Your Own Worst Enemy or Your Own Best Friend

Session Seven. Emotional “Short Circuits” and “Brain Shutdown”

Session Eight. Children and Family: How Can They Understand?

Session Nine. Fear of “the Needle”

Session Ten. Work with Your Doctor

Session Eleven. A Frightening Future: The Rise of Type 2 Diabetes in Youth

Session Twelve. Spirituality as a Guide and Support

Session Thirteen. What Are My Patients Thinking? A Session for Health Care Providers

Troubleshooting

Creating Your Own Panel Discussion

References and Resources

NDEP Publications Order Form

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Video Request Form and Instructions

Handouts

4 Steps to Control Your Diabetes for Life (English) (Spanish)

Be Smart About Your Heart. Control the ABCs of Diabetes: A1C, Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol (English) (Spanish)

If You Have Diabetes, Know Your Blood Sugar Numbers

Tips for Helping a Person With Diabetes

Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?

More Than 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes

Tips for Children with Type 2 Diabetes Series

--What is Diabetes? (English) (Spanish)
--Be Active (English) (Spanish)
--Stay at a Healthy Weight (English) (Spanish)
--Eat Healthy Foods (English) (Spanish)

Diabetes in Children and Adolescents

Team Care: Comprehensive Lifetime Management for Diabetes

To borrow or purchase The Debilitator film:
The Debilitator is an independently produced film created by Millennium Filmworks. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is not responsible for the content of The Debilitator film, and reference to this film does not imply an endorsement of products developed by the organizations that funded and created this film. Information on obtaining this film is provided solely as a service for users of the New Beginnings discussion guide.

The Missouri Diabetes Prevention and Control Program has purchased several copies of The Debilitator film that can be borrowed through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Audio Visual Program. The film is available in VHS (#VH004878) or DVD (#DV0007) format. For a request form and instructions for requesting the film, go to pages 119-120 of the guide or click here. Since the film is needed for several sessions of this guide, the film can be borrowed for up to three months, and can be renewed for another three months if needed for a longer period of time.

To purchase the film, contact Millennium Filmworks at http://www.millenniumfilmworksinc.com or call (404) 717-4383. The film can be purchased in VHS or DVD format for $25.00 (including shipping and handling) each.

Single copy or bulk order purchases of the film plus discussion guide can be made through the Public Health Foundation at www.phf.org. On the website, click on Bookstore and then Diabetes to locate the guide and film. Prices are $25.00 for the guide; $66.00 for the guide and film; or $50.00 for the film alone.

If you have questions, please contact the Missouri Diabetes Prevention and Control Program at (573) 522-2861 or (800) 316-0935.