Audio Stories to Reach, Teach, and Heal

Stories to Reach, Teach, and Heal: A Guide for Diabetes Health Educators [PDF - 3 MB] was written with the hope that sharing stories can build connections on paths toward wellness, especially for people affected by diabetes. Throughout this publication, we show how health educators can use storytelling to inspire people to think about diabetes—and their ability to cope with it—in new ways.

Download and play audio files of these stories to help them come alive and to facilitate asking people to share the stories that hold meaning for them, using the Questions for Discussion for each story in Appendix A of Stories to Reach, Teach, and Health: A Guide for Diabetes Health Educators.

Pandora's Box

"Pandora's Box" is a good story to use to help patients focus on what they find difficult about living with diabetes and to help them identify resources for hope. Find out what happens when "one day, a beautifully wrapped box appeared on Pandora's front step with a label that warned "DO NOT OPEN!"

Download/Listen to audio [audio MP3 - 3 MB]
Download transcript [PDF - 42 KB]
Follow Questions for Discussion from Guide page 24

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It is for the Best

"It is for the Best" is a lively story that can help patients identify the unexpected silver linings in their day-to-day life with diabetes, like positive changes in health choices. Listen to how the King changed his mind after a twist of events on his hunting trip.

Download/Listen to audio [audio MP3 - 3 MB]
Download transcript [PDF - 43 KB]
Follow Questions for Discussion from Guide page 26

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Bundle of Sticks

Diabetes educators like to use "Bundle of Sticks" to help the group to practice telling stories by telling them from firsthand experience and using personal connections, using mental imagery, and other tips to make stories come alive. The story also helps patients remember that big obstacles are easier to tackle when taken step by step and the value of having supportive people along the journey of diabetes management.

Download/Listen to audio [audio MP3 - 2 MB]
Download transcript [PDF - 40 KB]
Follow Questions for Discussion from Guide page 28

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Aesop's Fable: The Ant and the Grasshopper

In this story, listen to how the Ant and the Grasshopper handle preparing for the upcoming winter in different ways, and with different outcomes. The story can help patients discuss thoughts about how present actions can affect future outcomes of living with diabetes.

Download/Listen to audio [audio MP3 - 2 MB]
Download transcript [PDF - 39 KB]
Follow Questions for Discussion from Guide page 28

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Keeping a Promise

This story about how a mother realizes the importance of keeping her promise to her son can help patients talk about what behaviors children see their parents modeling and how this can change to create healthy lifestyle choices for the entire family, with the promise of good health.

Download/Listen to audio [audio MP3 - 2 MB]
Download transcript [PDF - 40 KB]
Follow Questions for Discussion from Guide page 32

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The Rabbit and the Crocodiles

Listen to how the clever Rabbit is advised by the wise Bird to entice the Crocodiles to help him across the river to greener fields. The story can help patients talk about the wisdom of their personal advisors and how they have creatively solved issues with their own diabetes management.

Download/Listen to audio [audio MP3 - 4 MB]
Download transcript [PDF - 44 KB]
Follow Questions for Discussion from Guide page 34

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The Great Python

Diabetes educators chuckle when they read a story called "The Great Python" because the python's saliva had magical healing properties, which reminds them of exenatide, a diabetes medication derived from Gila monster saliva. "The Great Python" can be a tale about unlikely healers or trust, or it can be an opportunity to discuss the importance of using your imagination."

Download/Listen to audio [audio MP3 - 6 MB]
Download transcript [PDF - 44 KB]
Follow Questions for Discussion from Guide page 38

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The Old Alchemist

Listen to this quest of a young man who wanted to get rich, and in doing so, actually took the longer path of hard work and reward. Patients can talk about using support of family and friends as resources, as well times they recognized the value of taking the longer and sometimes harder path to sustained health and wellbeing.

Download/Listen to audio [audio MP3 - 4 MB]
Download transcript [PDF - 45 KB]
Follow Questions for Discussion from Guide page 40

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The Mustard Seed

"The Mustard Seed" is a short and powerful story of grief and loss, and finding a path to accept losses in life, including those that may come with the diagnosis of diabetes.

Download/Listen to audio [audio MP3 - 1 MB]
Download transcript [PDF - 40 KB]
Follow Questions for Discussion from Guide page 41

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The Blind Elephant

Listen to this moving story of a blind elephant who soon becomes the unlikely leader for the entire herd, and encourage patients to talk about how they transformed their own losses into strength using their inner wisdom for healing.

Download/Listen to audio [audio MP3 - 2 MB]
Download transcript [PDF - 38 KB]
Follow Questions for Discussion from Guide page 42

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A Sack Full of Troubles

Listen to a story of a rabbi who helps the people in a village to see their troubles are no greater than those of others. The story can help patients discuss their own troubles, including issues with diabetes management, and the people in their lives like the rabbi who have shared wisdom for clarity and perspective.

Download/Listen to audio [audio MP3 - 2 MB]
Download transcript [PDF - 39 KB]
Follow Questions for Discussion from Guide page 44