Conversation Map^® Success Stories

The Diabetes Conversation Map education tools are excellent tools that ALL educators should be using.

The education tools and training were above and beyond my expectations.

I used the Conversation Map education tool, "Diabetes and Healthy Eating" yesterday in my December diabetes education class and it was well received by the participants. It is a great learning tool.

I came home and immediately started using the Conversation Map education tools with a volunteer test group. At the very first session I saw a change in attitude by several participants. this was the first time anyone had ever asked them how they FEEL about dealing with diabetes in their life. Now one of the participants is trying to set up a diabetes support group in our community to keep the dialog alive. I will be reaching out in our area finding organizations that want to explore this new way of communicating with diabetes patients.

We are using the Converation Map education tools in our Medicare classes, which are the only classes we currently run. They seem to be quite successful. They most definitely help initiate conversation and I think the class participants feel more comfortable speaking, than in the traditional "teacher/student" set up. We set up the room in a close circle or square so everyone is included. As our Medicare classes tend to be somewhat older participants, I think they welcome the chance to have a forum that is not so formal in which to ask questions, give their comments and learn. I think it's easier to use the Conversation Map education process also when you have class members who range from very newly diagnosed to fairly well read Type 2 diabetes patients who are now on insulin. We've just completed our third set of classes with the Conversation Map education tools and fully intend to continue with their use.

I love the Conversation Map education tools and think they are awesome. I enjoy navigating them through the tool vs. didactic teaching! My listening skills are improving but I still have a ways to go ...I am the only educator at this recognized site now so I thank God every day for the Conversation Map education tools!

I was preparing to teach about diabetes medications to a class with people whose reading skills were at a low level. This was my first time to teach medications without a nurse to team teach, so I was a bit nervous about the content. I studied quite a bit to refresh my memory about which medications did what.

I used the Continuing Your Journey With Diabetes Conversation Map tool with the class. The listened and participated willingly.

During the class evaluation, the class was asked, "What was the most helpful thing that we did during your classes?" Several class members responded by saying, "I really learned a lot about what the different medicines that I take do in my body."

I really think that use of the engaging Conversation Map education tool helped the class (and teacher!) feel comfortable with what is typically a difficult topic to teach.

I'm an RD and in charge of an accredited diabetes program. The other two educators in the program and I look forward to many more successful ventures with the Conversation Map education tools.

I have used the Conversation Map education tools several times for group classes of 5-10 people all with great response. Patients have had fun and learned something as well.  One particular story stands out and is recounted below.

I was using the Conversation Map education tools for a class of 6 people at a Community Health Center. The patients in this center are generally lower income, minority patients and getting them to come to classes for any education is difficult. This class went well using Map tool number 1 covering general diabetes information. All were invited back the following week for class 2 and I was planning to use the Conversation Map education tool covering complications. I was so surprised to see that my class size had doubled!! One patient also brought two friends, some brought family members, but all returned for class 2. This was almost unheard of in this setting. I asked them how I was so lucky to get all these people and the response was overwhelmingly "we had fun last week!"

I am using the Conversation Map education tools on a regular basis for both classes and for support groups. I think they are "out of the box" teaching and I love them. Apparently, my patients do too!

I facilitated my first program in January at the E-fitness and Wellness Center in Biloxi, MS. Twelve people showed up so I had to place the significant others behind the person with diabetes around the Conversation Map education tool. This was the best experience I have ever had in diabetes self-management education in twelve years.

I had a very good experience using the Conversation Map education tools at our health center. We are a non-profit health center, serving mainly uninsured people. We have people froma wide variety of backgrounds. On a Saturday morning, I held a class for people with diabetes, using the first Conversation Map education tool. What followed as we went through the  Conversation Map education tool was nothing less than remarkable! These five people from diverse backgrounds began to share and relate with each other over the questions and pictures on the tool and related to the feelings and experiences brought up by the common bond of struggling to live life with diabetes. All participated and there was a good sense of camaraderie among those present. I truly think the structure of the tool and the colorful pictures and game-like nature makes it accessible to many people.

Thank you for making these tools available to me to use.

Since using the maps, I have seen the class transform from a group of adults that showed no excitement to be in class, and actually some voiced resentment, to a group who was laughing, engaged, and actually having fun while learning. Patient and families are actually retaining information and WANTING to learn. With this enthusiasm, the patients take care of themselves and absorb and apply the necessary information.