KØBENHAVNS KOMMUNE · STENO DIABETES CENTER

Designing tools for conversations about life with diabetes

Developing visual tools and course materials that help people with type 2 diabetes reflect on life with diabetes, share experiences and talk about diabetes stress.

Life with Diabetes illustration combining mental health and personal growth
Life with Diabetes workshop using reflection cards and conversation tools

Making difficult conversations easier

Living with diabetes involves much more than managing blood sugar. Worries, frustration, relationships and the constant responsibility of living with a chronic condition can all affect everyday life.

The challenge was to translate complex and sensitive subjects into simple, approachable tools that encourage reflection and make difficult conversations easier to start.

  • Life with Diabetes decision and concern tree communication tool

    Turning worries into reflection and possible action.

  • Life with Diabetes reflection communication tool for discussing everyday life with diabetes

    Creating space for personal reflection and experience.

  • Life with Diabetes body awareness exercise and reflection guide

    Connecting thoughts and emotions with physical awareness.

Understanding diabetes stress

A series of cards combines facts about diabetes stress with simple illustrations and prompts for reflection. The cards make an often invisible emotional burden more tangible β€” providing a shared starting point for conversation.

  • Life with Diabetes communication card on reducing diabetes stress
  • Life with Diabetes reflection card on diabetes stress and emotional reactions
  • Life with Diabetes communication card explaining diabetes stress as a normal reaction
  • Life with Diabetes communication card on the prevalence of diabetes stress

From reflection to conversation

The materials support conversation around the table. Participants write, draw and share experiences, using visual tools that provide structure without prescribing what to think or say.

Together, reflection exercises, conversation cards and course materials form a warm, approachable and non-clinical toolkit.

Life with Diabetes conversation tools for mental health and diabetes
Life with Diabetes workshop participant using a reflection card