Clinical Connections-Choose Your Own Learning Adventure

Assistive Technology
  Through my choose your own learning adventure I learned a few new things. First, I enjoyed my time learning a lot about assistive technology. Assistive technology is used to help anyone with a disability and is used to improve their functional capabilities. I learned through my readings that there are three types of assistive technology: high tech, medium tech, and low tech. This topic is something I am so interested in because I love to see our modern day technology being used in such a beneficial way. When deciding which assistive technology to use it is imperative to first consider all of your options, then you need to test out some of your options. This allows for the best fit to the individual seeking the assistive technology. Once you have found your best fit you can finally implement this choice and use it for a more beneficial lifestyle.

OT's Role in Diabetes Management
    The next topic I really enjoyed learning more about is an OT's role in diabetes management. This topic is near and dear to my heart as one of my closest friends, Baylie (picture included) has been living with Type 1 diabetes since she was 4 years old. As OT's we can help with the management of diabetes as a lot of research says the management of diabetes is the main way that most would find the most comfort. The more prevalent form of diabetes is Type 2, which is preventable. This comes from exercise habits, medication management, food intake, and lifestyle choices. As OT's we can have a big impact on these people and how to live their best life with diabetes. As an OT we can provide a holistic form of medicine and look at them as a whole person and see what may be worsening their diabetes through their lifestyle choices. Education is one of the best ways to affect a person's health outcomes. If we can get across some of the long-term health implications, such as a heart attack or even death then we can hopefully save a person before it is too late. An important intervention is teaching time management i.e. when to eat, when to take your insulin, goal setting, money management (insulin is one of the most expensive liquids out for medicinal use). We can also teach coping strategies and how they themselves can properly administer themselves their insulin. All of these things can make an extraordinary difference in someone's life and is so important to their overall well-being.