Facilitating Healthy Coping in Patients With Diabetes

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to summarize recent literature on approaches to supporting healthy coping in diabetes, in two specific areas: 1) impact of different approaches to diabetes treatment on healthy coping; and 2) effectiveness of interventions specifically designed to support healthy coping. Methods A PubMed search identified 129 articles published August 1, 2006 – April 30, 2011, addressing diabetes in relation to emotion, quality of life, depression, adjustment, anxiety, coping, family therapy, behavior therapy, psychotherapy, problem-solving, couples therapy, or marital therapy. Results Evidence suggests that treatment choice may significantly influence quality of life, with treatment intensification in response to poor metabolic control often improving quality of life. The recent literature provides support for a variety of healthy coping interventions in diverse populations, including diabetes self-management education, support groups, problem-solving approaches, and coping skills interventions for improving a range of outcomes, Cognitive Behavior Therapy and collaborative care for treating depression, and family therapy for improving coping in youths. Conclusions Healthy coping in diabetes has received substantial attention in the past five years. A variety of approaches show positive results. Research is needed to compare effectiveness of different approaches in different populations and determine how to overcome barriers to intervention dissemination and implementation.

4. Lifestyle Management

“…Studies have found that DSME is associated with improved diabetes knowledge and self-care behaviors (2), lower A1C (6-9), lower self-reported weight (10,11), improved quality of life (8,12), healthy coping (13,14), and reduced health care costs (15,16). Better outcomes were reported for DSME interventions that were over 10 h in total duration, included followup with DSMS (3,17), were culturally (18,19) and age appropriate (20,21), were tailored to individual needs and preferences, and addressed psychosocial issues and incorporated behavioral strategies (4,13,22,23).…”

Diabetes Self-management Education and Support in Type 2 Diabetes: A Joint Position Statement of the American Diabetes Association, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

“…Besides this important reduction, DSME has a positive effect on other clinical, psychosocial, and behavioral aspects of diabetes. DSME/S is reported to reduce the onset and/or advancement of diabetes complications (21,22), to improve quality of life (19,(23)(24)(25)(26) and lifestyle behaviors such as having a more healthful eating pattern and engaging in regular physical activity (27), to enhance self-efficacy and empowerment (28), to increase healthy coping (29), and to decrease the presence of diabetes-related distress (16,30) and depression (31,32). These improvements clearly reaffirm the importance and value-added benefit of DSME.…”

The impact of health literacy on diabetes self-management education

“…They are available in different formats, including individual and group-based interventions conducted in hospitals, medical homes or other care organisations, as well as IT based (e.g., web-based or phone-based programmes) (Powers et al, 2015). DSME programmes have been shown to produce positive effects on clinical, psychological and behavioral outcomes in diabetic patients, including improved glycaemic control (Brunisholz et al, 2014;Ellis et al, 2004;Steinsbekk, Rygg, Lisulo, Rise and Fretheim, 2012;Weaver et al, 2014), improved quality of life (Cochran and Conn, 2008;Powers et al, 2015;Tang, Funnell and Oh, 2012;Thorpe et al, 2013), increased diabetes knowledge (Steinsbekk et al, 2012) healthier lifestyle behaviours (Tang et al, 2012;Toobert et al, 2011), more healthy coping (Thorpe et al, 2013) and enhanced self-efficacy (Steinsbekk et al, 2012;Tang et al, 2012).…”