Can diabetic educators be fat?

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Something has been ticking over in my head since I last worked with a diabetic educator. This lady said that a good diabetic educator should not be overweight or fat as they are supposed to role model the appropriate behaviour for their clients. I can see what she means but also consider this is a very limited view. I was wondering what other peoples two cents were and whether they found clients listen more in these situations.

CAN they be fat? Sure.

I wouldn't take one seriously, though. Let's see... let me get my diabetic information from a FAT girl, go train with my FAT trainer, catch a flight with a BLIND pilot, have my car fixed at boat repair shop, and then go under the knife with some dude that works at McDonald's.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I have a diabetic educator who is rather hefty but she is EXCELLENT! Really knows her stuff!

I wish people wouldn't be so narrow-minded about everything...

Why would not agreeing with an overweight diabetic educator make someone narrow-minded about EVERYTHING?

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
CAN they be fat? Sure.

I wouldn't take one seriously, though. Let's see... let me get my diabetic information from a FAT girl, go train with my FAT trainer, catch a flight with a BLIND pilot, have my car fixed at boat repair shop, and then go under the knife with some dude that works at McDonald's.

Just to be fair, these analogies in bold wouldn't really be relevant. Pilots have to pass vision tests and a diabetic educator would be educated on diabetes, whether they applied info or not that education is there. Some dude that works at McDonalds more then likely isn't trained on doing surgery. (unless he is working McD's on the side)

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Um, I'm aware, sweetie. ;)

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The CDE I used to work with was fat.

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Is it judgmental of me, sure it is, I own it and I am ok with it.

Well, see, issue settled. The answer to the original question, "Can diabetic educators be fat?", is no, due to the personal biases of some patients.

I share the same propensity to make initial judgments based on a quick appraisal of a situation. I'm sure my first thought when confronted with a 300 pounder wanting to give me weight management advice would be, "yeah, right." I don't try to portray myself as superior in this regard, I have the same evolved human instincts as everyone else.

My hope for myself would be that I would have the ability to rationally understand the source of this snap judgment, and actively seek to use rationality in my decision making, instead of going through mental gymnastics to justify my initial instinctual impression of the situation.

That 300 pounder could very well have a huge wealth of knowledge of DM, and years of experience in successfully managing and improving the lives of DM patients. The patient/client/student/colleague who dismisses that person based on physical characteristics is irrationally depriving themselves of a valuable resource.

And that's all I'm really trying to get across here.

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[snip]I seek the services of someone who can help with the daily struggle to control my intake and get more exercise. I have found through considerable experience that people who have never personally dealt with such issues are rarely able to relate to the nature of the struggle of it all.... What I would be willing to pay for is for someone who could inspire me ... coach me ... share insights learned from their similar struggles ... have empathy based on a true understanding ... etc. And while I acknowledge that a person of any weight might be able to do that, I have found that such abilities are most likely to be found in people who have actually experienced a similar struggle and found ways to succeed -- not in people who have never experienced such a struggle or in those who have not yet found a way to succeed in their own lives.

Ha, I knew it couldn't be so...what you describe above is your personal, rationally derived and emotionally appropriate method for evaluating and choosing the qualities you seek in a professional of this type.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Well, see, issue settled. The answer to the original question, "Can diabetic educators be fat?", is no, due to the personal biases of some patients.

I share the same propensity to make initial judgments based on a quick appraisal of a situation. I'm sure my first thought when confronted with a 300 pounder wanting to give me weight management advice would be, "yeah, right." I don't try to portray myself as superior in this regard, I have the same evolved human instincts as everyone else.

My hope for myself would be that I would have the ability to rationally understand the source of this snap judgment, and actively seek to use rationality in my decision making, instead of going through mental gymnastics to justify my initial instinctual impression of the situation.

That 300 pounder could very well have a huge wealth of knowledge of DM, and years of experience in successfully managing and improving the lives of DM patients. The patient/client/student/colleague who dismisses that person based on physical characteristics is irrationally depriving themselves of a valuable resource.

And that's all I'm really trying to get across here.

Actually the answer to the question is YES. Unless their is some rule that states no DE may be fat, then yes they can be. Does it mean everyone will be inclined to take their advise? Absolutely not, but going off the question alone the answer would be yes.

You can't guarantee that patients will take anyone's advice, even if they are a thin DE. Look how many "non compliant" patients their are. These boards are full of vents from nurses tired of patients not willing to listen. All we can do as nurses is try to start our part on the best part. That might mean if you wish to teach smoking cessation, you don't smoke yourself. Or if you chose to be a dietitian you have good eating habits. In the end the patient still might give a care less to what you have to say, but I am willing to bet that if you practice what you preach, they will be more attuned to listen at least.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Um, I'm aware, sweetie. ;)

?????

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So, is there anyone reading this thread that doesn't know that eating less calories and burning more calories will cause someone's weight to go down? Of course not, this topic is not about knowledge, it's about coaching. I don't know about you, but some of my best athletic coaches, weren't necessarily physically fit themselves.....but they were great at motivating me to do what I needed to do to meet my goals.

Effective diabetes education is not dependent on whether the educator can manage their own carbohydrate intake, it's dependent on whether they can empower their clients to take control of managing their own carbohydrate intake. These are very different skill sets.

Just because someone can manage their own carb intake, doesn't mean that their strategies will work for me.

Personally, I wouldn't care if my DE was orange with purple polka dots....how effective of a coach are they? That's the question I would be looking for an answer to.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
So, is there anyone reading this thread that doesn't know that eating less calories and burning more calories will cause someone's weight to go down? Of course not, this topic is not about knowledge, it's about coaching. I don't know about you, but some of my best athletic coaches, weren't necessarily physically fit themselves.....but they were great at motivating me to do what I needed to do to meet my goals.

Effective diabetes education is not dependent on whether the educator can manage their own carbohydrate intake, it's dependent on whether they can empower their clients to take control of managing their own carbohydrate intake. These are very different skill sets.

Just because someone can manage their own carb intake, doesn't mean that their strategies will work for me.

Personally, I wouldn't care if my DE was orange with purple polka dots....how effective of a coach are they? That's the question I would be looking for an answer to.

The best coach I have ever met is my sons football and wrestling coach and he is fit. He demands fitness from the kids and he will get right in there with them doing it.

Regardless though, I would be far more motivated by someone that can stand by and DO what they are telling me. That to me is motivating. Anyone can talk the talk, I want someone that can walk the walk. That's just me though.

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The best coach I have ever met is my sons football and wrestling coach and he is fit. He demands fitness from the kids and he will get right in there with them doing it.

Regardless though, I would be far more motivated by someone that can stand by and DO what they are telling me. That to me is motivating. Anyone can talk the talk, I want someone that can walk the walk. That's just me though.

Whereas I care less about their walk....I want to know how they can influence my walk.

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