Does “Reflective Listening” Hold the Key to Behavioral Changes?
The importance of dietary changes and exercise for the proper management of type 2 diabetes is well documented. Doctors, educators and many people with the condition realize its benefits. The difficulty people with diabetes have making these lifestyle changes is just as well understood. A study published in the January 1997 issue of Diabetes Care shows that a procedure called “motivational interviewing” may “significantly enhance adherence to program recommendations and glycemic control.” Motivational interviewing is a short, clinically tested intervention process that is designed to utilize individuals’ personal motivation to change problematic behaviors. It has proven its effectiveness in several studies on people with drinking problems. In these studies, the interviews appeared to help subjects adhere to their standard alcoholism treatment programs. The current study tested the effectiveness of combining these intervention programs on women with type 2 diabetes whose weight was 120
