Healthcare professionals should routinely discuss the emotional impact of diabetes with patients, according to a clinical practice guideline developed by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). <\/p>\n
Published by Diabetologia<\/a>, the guidance paper calls for regular assessment and monitoring of diabetes distress \u2013 feelings of frustration, defeat or being overwhelmed by managing the condition \u2013 in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with personalised support where needed. <\/p>\n Related Article: Health news watch: the male contraceptive pill, assisted dying bill and more<\/a>\n<\/p>\n The guideline draws on findings from the D-Stress study<\/a>, co-funded by Diabetes UK and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which is developing and testing a UK programme to treat diabetes distress.\n<\/p>\n Key recommendations for healthcare professionals include:\n<\/p>\n talking about the emotional impact of diabetes during routine appointments; For people with type 1 diabetes, research showed psychological interventions and diabetes technology, including continuous glucose monitoring and hybrid closed loop systems, helped to reduce distress. <\/p>\n For those with type 2 diabetes, psychological support and education were found to be beneficial. <\/p>\n
\nusing trusted assessment tools to consistently identify diabetes distress;
\nmonitoring diabetes distress over time;
\nworking together with people experiencing diabetes distress to make personalised support plans; and
\noffering evidence-based support to help manage diabetes distress.<\/p>\n