Question:
For those of you that take part in a DM support group (other than here
on internet), what happens at your meetings? How often are then held?
When I was newly diagnosed as T2 I was sent to the "diabetes nurse" at
the clinic where my doctor is. I've known this woman for several
years, we were both members of our community band. I've never liked
the woman, very self involved and self centered. Despite having
played in the same group for about 5 years she had no clue who I was.
Her manner is to bully people into doing what she thinks is best.
Maybe she does know what's best for a newly diagnosed T2, but her
pushy (this is what you need to do, and I'm so important I don't have
time to answer your questions) attitude was a complete turnoff.
I decided I didn't want anymore one on one appointments with her but
would give her diabetes support group a try. It's the only diabetes
support group anywhere near here, and the meetings are held only
monthly.
I went to two meetings, but never went back. It was another session
of "do what I tell you. I know best. Here's this month's recipe."
There was absolutely no interaction with or among those attending,
only a lecture on that meeting's topic. About the only thing I
learned at these "support group" meetings was that store bought
sugar-free cookies taste like sawdust.
What kind of support group do people in here attend? I would dearly
love to be part of a group of peers who get together to discuss....
well, the kinds of DM things that are discussed in here.
I've got a doctor's appt. tomorrow AM and am going to ask him about
starting a group.
Answer:
We meet once a month. We usually have a guest speaker. There have been
doctors who are kind enough to come in, to diabetes educators, to
pharmacists, to company reps from companies that manufacture meters,
an EMT with the local ambulance service, and others. At least twice a
year we do not have a speaker so we can open up the entire meeting to
open discussion. Usually after our speaker they will give us a Q&A
period and when they leave we will have a brief period of discussion.
We are all there for the same things. That is to share our
experiences, strengths and hopes with each other so we may benefit
from learning what has worked for others.
It sounds as if this woman runs the group as a personal ego booster.
Is it her group, or it is held by someone else? Is the meeting room in
her home or her office?
Get my meaning? Any group is only as good as its members make it.
We have had the same leader for a number of years, it is true. That
isn't because of her ego or anything of the sort. It is because she
has the time and the ambition to line up speakers and do the other
work. We do not collect any fees because no one wants to be
responsible for any money. We are supported by the diabetes education
center at the hospital where we hold our meeting in that they mail out
the cards notifying members of the upcoming meetings after we get the
cards ready. They also provide us a meeting room at no charge.
>I've got a doctor's appt. tomorrow AM and am going to ask him about
>starting a group.
Good luck to you. If you can find a place to meet at a set time you
might start out by putting up notices in local super markets, drug
stores and anywhere else you can put up notices. You may want to see
if your local newspaper will publish notices of the meeting free of
charge.
I happen to be in charge of ours this month, January and February
simply because our usual leader is in Texas for the winter helping to
build houses for the poor. Thank goodness she already lined up
speakers. In January our speaker will be a diabetes educator from one
of the two local hospital diabetes education centers. In February our
speaker is a representative from the Juvenile Diabetes bunch to talk
about the annual walk for them. Last year we didn't contribute as a
group - just as individuals. The year before we did it as a group and
I believe the contribution was something over $2,000.
We are currently sending out 80 cards every month. Our attendance is
normally between 15 and 25. Unfortunately the night of the December
meeting a snow storm was predicted and there were only nine of us in
attendance.
