Cognitive-behavioral group therapy reduces diabetes-related distress in type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Diabetes-related distress is often a significant burden for many people with diabetes mellitus and can have a negative impact on diabetes self-management and health. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a diabetes-specific cognitive-behavioral group therapy to reduce stress, consisting of six sessions for individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Stress management strategies such as mindfulness and relaxation techniques were taught, as well as cognitive strategies related to participants' daily lives with diabetes, thoughts and emotions. Questionnaires were available from 52 individuals (51.9% with type 1 diabetes, 61.5% female, age MW= 50.4 years) after study participation. A significant improvement was found in the Problem Areas In Diabetes Questionnaire (Delta 6.24 [95% CI: 1.85-10.62], p=.006), the Perceived Stress Survey (Delta 2.93 [95% CI: 1.59-4.26], p=.000) and the Diabetes Acceptance Scale (Delta 5.5 [95% CI: 9.07-1.93], p=.003). This also proved stable at a six-month follow-up. Self-reported HbA1c also significantly reduced in the subsample of N= 40 from which data were available (Delta 0.73 [95% CI: 0.015-1.452], p=.046). The group stress reduction therapy program can be considered a low-threshold, psychotherapeutic intervention for reducing diabetes-related stress. It could be a helpful primary and secondary preventive offer for people with diabetes-related distress in standard care.