As many of you already know, the diabetes Conversation Map® tools are a full curriculum for type 2 DSME/S. This means that the content covered during the Map sessions, with supporting materials, meets the American Diabetes Association Recognition criteria for a complete DSME curriculum.

But what happens in between the Map sessions and after the participants complete the full DSME curriculum? How do we deliver the “support” from the DSME/S?

Most self-management tasks take place outside our clinics and our patients are left on their own to monitor their goal and progress. And they can’t always call us with their questions, so they turn to the Internet for answers that are not always accurate and reliable.

The HI Goals App is designed to help us help our patients set goals and to make it easier for us to stay better connected in between Map sessions—to provide a way for us to better deliver on the “S” in DSME/S. Through the app, I am able to answer my patients’ questions and offer support and encouragement when they need it the most. And because we established a relationship during our Map session, our communication through the app feels natural, not “techy” or “awkward.”


The way I have incorporated the HI Goals app into the Map session is to introduce it at the time of the goal setting towards the end of the session—when I ask, “What are you going to do differently between now and the next time I see you? How are you going to monitor your progress?”

I have realized through using the app that patients will typically decide to change some behaviors during the actual Map session. However, it’s not until after the session that they truly uncover the steps they need to take to work toward their goals. Often, they need our support as they begin their behavior change journey. With the ability to communicate via the app, I am able to encourage my patients to reach out to me with questions and challenges rather than leaving them to search online for information that may not be a correct fit for their situation.

I’m also using the app as a way to respond much more quickly to my patients’ changing needs. I see patients during sessions and then a few times a year in clinics, but they can sometimes have significant needs between visits. Some patients are good about calling the office when they need help, but for others, digital communication is more comfortable. For example, a patient of mine left a Map session with a goal to start eating a healthier breakfast in order to better control his daytime glucose level. However, he developed gout and pain management became a higher priority. Because he shared this with me via the HI Goals app, I was able to work with him to modify his diabetes care plan to meet his updated needs. Our interactions would have been much more delayed if we waited for our next in-person connection.

I have enjoyed becoming more proficient with online coaching through our new HI Goals app. It’s a new skill for many of us, including myself. It’s also helping me to develop a more efficient way to communicate with my patients. As I respond to them through the app, I am very thoughtful about what words to use and try to communicate in a way that is both informative but also encouraging and action oriented.

I’d love to hear about your experiences integrating technology into your practice. If there are apps you like, or successes you’ve had, please share in the comments!