Problem solving
Problem solving means knowing what to do when things go wrong. It includes everything from what to do in an emergency to handling the small details of your diabetes care.
What would you do if your glucose was suddenly too high or too low? Do you know what changes to make in your diabetes care if you get the flu? What if you have trouble sticking with your meal plan? Here’s a 5-step process for problem solving that will help you handle any issue that comes your way.
Step I: Identify the problem
- Be as specific as you can. Use examples if possible.
Step II: Clarify feelings and meaning
- What are your thoughts about this? How does the issue make you feel?
- What does the issue mean to you? How important is it to you?
Step III: Develop a plan
- What do you want to happen?
- What are your options?
- What are barriers for you?
- Who could help you?
- What are the costs and benefits for each of your choices?
- What would happen if you do not do anything?
Step IV: Commit to action
- What are some steps you could take?
- Are you willing to do what you need to do to solve this problem?
- What are you going to do?
- When are you going to do it?
- How will you know if you have succeeded?
Step V: Experience and evaluate the plan
- How did it go?
- What did you learn?
- What barriers did you encounter?
- What, if anything, would you do differently next time?
