Significant reduction in diabetes distress and improvements in psychosocial outcomes: A pilot test of an intervention to reduce diabetes distress in adults with type 1 diabetes and moderate‐to‐severe diabetes distress (REDUCE)

• DOI: 10.1111/dme.15187
• Publication Date: 2023-07-20T15:42:14Z
• Authors: Vibeke Stenov; Mette Due‐Christe...; Bryan Richard Cleal; Ingrid Willaing T...
• Keywords: Adult; Male; psychological aspects; type 1 diabetes; questionnaire; Emotions; Pilot Projects; 16. Peace & justice; complex intervention; Hypoglycemia; 3. Good health; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; diabetes distress; Quality of Life; Humans; Female; qualitative methods

To pilot-test an intervention, co-designed with people type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and specialist nurses, to reduce distress (DD) in adults T1DM moderate-to-severe DD.A group-based programme DD (REDUCE) was pilot-tested four groups five bi-weekly two a half-hour meetings facilitated by trained nurses. Data collection included baseline post-intervention questionnaires measuring psychosocial outcomes semi-structured interviews participants (n = 18). were analysed using descriptive statistics systematic text condensation.Twenty-five participated the study. The median age duration of 50 (IQR: 32;57.5) years 26 18;45) years, respectively. Seventeen (68%) women. pilot study showed significant reduction (measured Type Diabetes Distress Scale) between from 2.6 ± 0.7 1.9 0.6 (mean SD) (p < 0.001). largest reductions seen on subscales: powerlessness 1.2 1.1, eating 0.9 fear hypoglycaemia 0.8 1.0 SD). Significant improvements also for quality life, empowerment emotion regulation. Qualitative data that REDUCE supported verbalizing emotions seeing worries more constructive perspective. Acknowledgement negative experiences eased self-judgments. Sharing among peers increased relatedness reduced loneliness.Participation associated increase life. Larger scale studies are planned determine sustained effectiveness REDUCE.