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VIDEO: Diabetes educators must become comfortable discussing sexual issues with patients

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SAN DIEGO — In this video exclusive, Endocrine Today Diabetes in Real Life columnist Susan Weiner, MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, speaks with Janis Roszler, MS, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND, and Donna Rice, MBA, BSN, RN, CDE, FAADE, about gaining comfort talking about sex and relationships with their patients with diabetes. Any distress the educator has with the topic discourages the patient from raising sexual issues that might be interfering with diabetes self-management. Diabetes educators do not have to be experts in sex therapy, but should strive to be a resource for their patients who have questions, they said.

Roszler recommended listing sexual problems among other complications of diabetes and allowing the patient to mention specifics. Rice stressed that patients may need reassurance that sex is just one way to maintain intimacy and that it’s OK not to have sex.