AYUDA is different than other humanitarian diabetes organizations, and I am fascinated by its proposition. First, it brings diabetes education and human resource support, not medical supplies, to local diabetes communities in need.

Last year Dr. Ann Albright was the closing speaker at Diabetes Sister's "Weekend for Women." Albright is the director of the Division of Diabetes Translation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"Health coaching" is a shift in approach from more prescriptive nursing and towards supporting patients in identifying and achieving their own goals.

Receiving diabetes education soon after diagnosis is of the utmost importance. I tell people in class that I cannot imagine successfully managing diabetes without attending a comprehensive diabetes class.