Living with diabetes involves navigating not only physical health challenges but also emotional stress, often referred to as “diabetes distress.”
A recent study from Amsterdam UMC, published in Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare, explores the strategies that adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes use to manage this distress.
The findings based on data gathered from members of Diabetes.co.uk shed light on effective ways to support diabetes management.
Understanding diabetes distress
Diabetes distress encompasses the emotional difficulties that come with managing diabetes, including concerns about blood sugar control, medication adherence, and long-term complications.
Approximately 30% of adults with diabetes report experiencing significant diabetes distress, which can negatively affect self-management behaviors like diet, exercise, and medication adherence.
Findings
The study analysed responses from 625 adults with diabetes (58.9% were female with an average age 56.3 years).
Participants described the coping strategies they use and rated their usefulness. These strategies were categorised into problem-focused and emotion-focused approaches:
- Problem-focused strategies which directly addressing diabetes management. The most frequently used and perceived as useful strategies were “Taking care of my diabetes” and “Eating healthy.” These proactive approaches are associated with better diabetes outcomes and lower distress levels.
- Emotion-focused strategies which manage emotional responses to stress, such as “Expressing my emotions (crying or being angry).” These strategies were used less often and rated as less effective in reducing distress.
Differences based on distress levels
Participants were divided into groups based on their diabetes distress scores.
Those with higher distress were more likely to use emotion-focused strategies, such as distraction and venting emotions, which are associated with less adaptive outcomes.
In contrast, individuals with lower distress levels more often used problem-focused strategies, like healthy eating and positive thinking, which are linked to better diabetes self-management.
Interestingly, strategies like “Positive thinking/optimism” and “Eating healthy” were more commonly used and found more helpful by those with lower diabetes distress.
On the other hand, strategies like “Expressing my emotions” were more frequently employed by those experiencing higher distress.
Implications for diabetes care
The findings emphasise the importance of problem-focused coping strategies in managing diabetes distress. For individuals with diabetes, taking proactive steps such as consistent glucose monitoring and maintaining a balanced diet can be beneficial. Additionally, healthcare professionals can support patients by encouraging these strategies and offering resources to improve self-management skills.
However, coping is not a one-size-fits-all process. The study highlights the need for personalised interventions, considering factors like age, sex, and cultural background, as coping preferences can vary widely.
- Inflammation during childhood is a risk significant risk factor for developing mental health disorders
- Severe diabetes complication associated with poor mental health
- Prescribing nature shows major mental health benefits
Healthcare providers should consider the individual’s unique experience and context when recommending coping strategies.
Providing individuals with diabetes a list of effective coping strategies could increase their awareness of how to manage distress and inspire them to explore new approaches.
The study’s authors suggest that integrating these strategies into personalised care plans may enhance diabetes management and overall well-being.
The research also calls for more diverse studies, as this one primarily included participants of white ethnicity and higher education levels.
Future research should explore coping strategies across different cultures and demographics to ensure that findings are applicable to a broader population.
