EMPOWERING people to LIVE WELL with DIABETES

 

Catherine Feste is the author of many books, programs and essays that have

helped to change the way people face diabetes. With a focus on the person

rather than the disease, she taught LIFE SKILLS to complement diabetes

management skills. Focusing on the personal attributes associated with a

psychosocial/spiritual approach, she developed an empowerment program:

EMPOWERMENT: A Personal Path to Responsible Self-Care.

 

POSITIVE, MEASURABLE RESULTS

 

Evaluated at the University of Michigan in a randomized controlled trial the

program participants had a clinically significant improvement in A1c along

with improved attitudes and increased self-efficacy, considered the single

greatest determinant of adherent behavior.

 

AWARD-WINNING WORK: INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED

 

The empowerment program has won awards for educational excellence from

the Society of Public Health Education (SOPHE) in Hawaii and the Paragon

Award from Minnesota's chapter of SOPHE. With a tested and proven message

Cathy was invited to present at the 1988 International Diabetes Federation

(IDF) in Sydney and was the 1990 Mow Fellow at the International Diabetes

Institute in Melbourne, Australia. In 1994 she was a presenter at the WHO and

University of Geneva's program:  Patient Education 2000. She keynoted at the

2003 IDF in Paris and spoke at the 2013 IDF in Melbourne.

 

BRINGING THE MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE

 

Seeking to reach the people directly affected by diabetes, Cathy developed a derivative of her empowerment program:  TAKE 5. Using "The PHYSCIAN

WITHIN" in both book and DVD/VCR formats she trained parish nurses to

facilitate the program at their places of worship. She worked with worksite

health promotion departments at several major corporations and a large

school district, where graduates of the TAKE 5 program served as peer

facilitators for future groups --- expanded beyond diabetes to include any

patient-managed chronic disease.

 

OUTCOMES CONTINUED TO BE IMPROVED ATTITUDES  AND 

INCREASED SELF-EFFICACY