Psychosocial care

People with high diabetes distress achieve reductions in glycated hemoglobin and the need for emergency care for acute diabetes complications after starting on intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring, report researchers.

Research indicates that despite a lot of overlap, diabetes distress can arise from different experiences according to whether people have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Negative emotional experience and skill at regulating emotions are associated with diabetes distress in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, researchers report.

William Polonsky talks about how diabetes distress affects the wellbeing and glucose management of people with diabetes, and what healthcare professionals can do to help (15:48).

Improved diabetes knowledge and reduced distress both contribute to the positive effects of diabetes distress interventions on glycemic outcomes, say researchers.

A substantial proportion of people with diabetes experience negative psychologic consequences, and these issues are predicted by a number of factors including gaps in person-centered care, insulin use, and complications, suggest findings from a Danish national survey.

The presence of diabetes distress and body dissatisfaction may warn of a high risk for disordered eating in adolescents with type 1 diabetes, show data from the Diabetes MILES Youth–Australia study.

A patient-specific cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle counseling intervention can significantly improve psychological outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients with depression and/or regimen-related distress, say researchers.

Sanjay Kalra and Psychiatrist Yatan Pal Singh Balhara question whether “diabetes distress” is well understood outside of the diabetes field and consider whether alternative terminology may help to bridge the knowledge gap.

Clinical psychologists Diana Naranjo and Korey Hood tackle the negative feedback loops that can develop around diabetes self-management and offer their insights on strategies to identify and address the roots of distress.

Elmira E, Banks E, Joshy G. BMJ Open 2018; 8: e022767. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022767

Fisher L et al. Diabetes Care 2018. doi: 10.2337/dc18-0391

Berry E, Davies M, Dempster M. Diabetes Res Clin Prac 2018; 141: 244–255. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2018.05.020

Lee AA et al. Diabetes Care 2018; Advance online publication. doi: 10.2337/dc17-2396

Hansen UM et al. Diabetes Res Clin Prac 2018; Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2018.03.040

Pearson S et al. Mindfulness 2018; Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s12671-018-0908-1

Psychological interventions might have a small positive effect on improving self-care and glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes, but not for relieving diabetes-related distress, suggest findings from The Cochrane Library.

Supported problem-solving does not result in improved glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes, but does reduce diabetes distress, show the findings of a randomized trial.

Rossi MC et al. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2017; 15: 41. doi: 10.1186/s12955-017-0613-0

Young-Hyman D et al. Diabetes Care. 2016; 39: 2126–2140. doi: 10.2337/dc16-2053