Healthcare Professionals Resources

Diabetes care is more than medical care.

There’s an emotional and behavioral side to living with diabetes—and healthcare professionals can make an enormous difference.

BDI provides practical tools, training, research, and clinical resources to help healthcare professionals better recognize and address the emotional and behavioral challenges of living with diabetes.

Professional Training & Videos

The Emotional Side of Diabetes

In this 2024 presentation, Dr. Lawrence Fisher explores diabetes distress, what it is, how it differs from depression, and why it matters in diabetes care. He discusses how emotional distress can affect diabetes management and outcomes, and how healthcare professionals can better recognize and address it in clinical practice. (44 Minutes)

Module One: Critical Psychosocial Issues In Diabetes: Key Contributors to Patient Disengagement

Explore some of the most common emotional barriers to diabetes self-care, including low motivation, depression, diabetes distress, and hopelessness. This four-part module offers practical insights to help healthcare professionals better understand patient disengagement and support meaningful behavior change.

1.Understanding and Assessing Diabetes Distress

William Polonsky, PhD
16 minutes

2. Motivation and Diabetes: A New Approach to an Old Problem

William Polonsky, PhD
16 minutes

3. How Big of a Deal is Depression in Diabetes?

Susan Guzman, PhD
10 minutes

4. Addressing Patients’ Sense of Fatalism and Hopelessness

William Polonsky, PhD
13 minutes

Module Two: Understanding Medication-Taking Challenges

Explore the common reasons people with diabetes may struggle with medication-taking, including forgetfulness, concerns about medications, and patient-provider trust. This four-part module offers practical insights to help healthcare professionals better understand these barriers and support more effective, collaborative diabetes care.

1. The Scope of the Problem

William Polonsky, PhD
16 minutes

2. Medication Taking and the Problem of Patient-Physician Trust

Susan Guzman, PhD
10 minutes

3. Medication Taking and the Problem of Forgetfulness

William Polonsky, PhD
12 minutes

4. Addressing Patients’ Misbeliefs About Their Medications

Susan Guzman, PhD
11 minutes

Module Three: Practical Strategies for Behavioral Diabetes Care

Explore practical strategies for addressing some of the most challenging aspects of diabetes care—from disordered eating, insulin concerns, and hypoglycemia worries to motivational interviewing, effective action planning, communication, and empathy. This module offers healthcare professionals tools for creating more supportive, collaborative, and effective conversations with people living with diabetes.