Addressing Diabetes Distress in Primary Care: Where Are We Now, and Where Do We Need to Go?

Authors: Marisa Kostiuk, E Seth Kramer, Andrea Nederveld, Danielle M Hessler, Lawrence Fisher, Jessica A Parascando, Tamara K Oser

Abstract

Purpose of review: Addressing diabetes distress (DD), the emotional demands of living with diabetes, is a crucial component of diabetes care. Most individuals with type 2 diabetes and approximately half of adults with type 1 diabetes receive their care in the primary care setting. This review will provide guidance on addressing DD and implementing targeted techniques that can be tailored to primary care patients.

Recent findings: Structured educational, behavioral, and emotion-focused techniques have promise for treating DD. These interventions are unlikely to require advanced training and can be feasibly integrated into primary care settings without creating additional burdens on time or resources. Interventional studies examining treatment for DD are limited, leaving a gap for clear direction and consensus on how to target and treat DD in primary care patients. This review consolidates recommendations and approaches from recent findings on how to treat DD within the context of primary care.

Keywords: Diabetes distress; Evidence-based interventions; Primary care; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39825946/

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BDI Monthly Events

BDI hosts the San Diego-wide, monthly case consultation meeting (for mental health professionals working in the field of diabetes). Contact us at [email protected] if you are in the greater San Diego area and would like further information about this program.

July 18: Time for another T1D meet-up! GrownupT1Ds, a wonderful nonprofit here in southern California, is teaming up with TCOYD and BDI for a special Friday afternoon (3 pm - 6 pm) you won’t want to miss. Dr. Edelman (famed endocrinologist, TCOYD Founder and living with T1D) and Dr. Polonsky (BDI President) will be speaking, and it will be a chance to hang out with other adults with T1D. The event will be held at TCOYD, 5720 Oberlin Drive, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92121. While the event is free, space is limited, so please RSVP https://grownupt1ds.org/.

August 8 – 10. Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD) will be hosting the in-person ONE event, an amazing weekend experience here in San Diego for more than 500 people with type 1 diabetes and their loved ones. Dr. Polonsky is honored to be one of the presenters, and we will hope to see many of you there. There are still a few spaces left, so if you’d like to know more, please visit: https://tcoyd.org/one-2025/