Diabetes Your Way

Michelle A. Dart holds a master's degree in nursing and has worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner in the Syracuse area. In 1995, she graduated from Elmira College with a bachelor's degree in nursing and obtained a master's degree in 2001 through Upstate Medical University. While working with children with diabetes and their families, she became a certified diabetes educator and has been the facilitator of a diabetes support group sponsored by a local community health organization for the past several years. Michelle has authored "Motivational Interviewing in Nursing Practice: Empowering the Patient," a nursing textbook about a way of communicating that promotes behavior change. In 2010, Michelle self-published the book entitled "Danny, the Diabetes Dynamo," a book for children newly diagnosed or early in their diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes. This book is the beginning of a series to help children learn self-management skills. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Michelle is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the American Diabetes Association, the Obesity Society, the Obesity Action Coalition, the Diabetes Education and Camping Association and the American Camping Association. In addition, she is a member of the National Association of Professional Women. She is on the review committee for the development of professional standards of practice for nurse health coaching. Michelle provides diabetes education in school and daycare settings as a consultant with the New York State Department of Health. In early 2012, Michelle founded Dart Health Coaching & Consulting to provide coaching to people affected by diabetes, including but not limited to those with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, parents of children with diabetes, adolescents/young adults with diabetes and support persons. Consulting services are provided in areas of Motivational Interviewing, health coaching, and diabetes education. She is available for coaching services, consulting and speaking engagements. Michelle lives in Auburn, NY, with her husband and two children. She has a son with Type 1 Diabetes and a parent with Type 2 Diabetes. This has provided her with her most valuable experiences.