Addressing the emotional burden of living with Type 1 diabetes helps patients improve their mental health and control their glucose levels.
Recent research published in Diabetes Care emphasizes the importance of focusing on the emotional well-being of individuals with Type 1 diabetes to help them cope with the condition and improve their overall emotional state.
Unlike Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition with no cure. It requires constant insulin dependence and often begins in childhood or young adulthood, posing significant challenges for those affected.
Individuals with Type 1 diabetes are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and disordered eating, which can go undiagnosed and untreated. Recognizing and addressing these emotional aspects is crucial for comprehensive diabetes management.
A Tale of Three Approaches
The EMBARK study explored three approaches to addressing diabetes distress:
- Streamline—a traditional educator-led program focusing on diabetes management
- TunedIn—a psychologist-led program targeting emotional aspects of living with Type 1 diabetes
- FixIt—a combination of Streamline and TunedIn programs
Participants in the study showed significant reductions in diabetes distress after 12 months, with TunedIn and FixIt programs leading to greater improvements compared to Streamline. Emotion-focused interventions were particularly effective in reducing both diabetes distress and blood glucose levels.
The findings highlight the importance of addressing emotional well-being in diabetes management, with virtual group-based programs showing promise in alleviating diabetes distress and improving overall health outcomes.
Virtual programs like TunedIn offer a valuable opportunity to support individuals with Type 1 diabetes in managing their condition and improving their quality of life.
