A group-based intervention for diabetes-related emotional distress among emerging adults with type 1 diabetes: A pilot study.

Aims: To assess diabetes-related emotional distress (DD) in emerging adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and assess a group-based intervention's impact.

Methods: To investigate DD we used data from the Problem Areas in Diabetes Questionnaire comprising 20 items (PAID-20). Furthermore, changes in the WHO Well-Being Index comprising five items (WHO-5) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were analysed. The intervention was evaluated using follow-up data from the emerging adults who participated.

Results: From 2021 to 2023, we screened 180 emerging adults using PAID-20. DD (PAID-20≥30) was prevalent in 25.0 % (95 % CI 18.9; 32.0 %), and associated with the female sex, higher HbA1c and WHO-5 < 50. Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion at baseline was associated with PAID-20<30. 21 individuals attended a group-based intervention. At one-week follow up PAID-20 was reduced (29.1 ± 15.4 vs. 41.3 ± 12.1 at baseline, p = 0.003), and at nine-twelve months' follow-up HbA1c was reduced (59.3 ± 15.3 mmol/mol vs. 68.0 ± 17.4 mmol/mol at baseline, p = 0.012).

Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrated that 25 % of the investigated emerging adults with T1D experienced DD (PAID-20≥30) associated with four clinical factors. We found a reduction in HbA1c and a short-term reduction in PAID-20 following the group-based intervention.