Integrating psychosocial and behavioral interventions into type 1 diabetes care

To identify recent literature evaluating the efficacy of psychosocial and behavioral interventions for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Interventions generally produce benefits for psychosocial and behavioral outcomes, and some also positively impact glycemia. Addressing psychosocial concerns during routine provider visits had mixed results; some studies found that structured tools improved well being, while others found they could derail conversations, or contribute to worsening glycemia due to a lack of time to review medical concerns. Integrating behavioral health providers in routine care, however, had a positive impact on glycemic outcomes. Stepped care interventions show promise for both children and adults, as they maximize available resources while contributing to improved well being. Group interventions, delivered either virtually or in-person, demonstrated benefits for diabetes distress, depressive symptoms, family conflict, and health behaviors, but had limited impact on positive parenting skills. Gaps in the current literature include limited research among adults and no research among older adults, as well as a lack of pragmatic research emphasizing implementation of effective interventions.

A wide range of interventions have demonstrated positive impacts on well being among people with T1D; more research is needed to identify strategies to routinely integrate psychosocial and behavioral support in clinical care.