Worldwide there are around 9 million individuals with type 1 diabetes, the cause of which is not known. Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile-onset diabetes, means that individuals’ bodies cannot produce enough of the hormone insulin which manages blood glucose levels.
Type 1 diabetes differs from type 2 diabetes, which is usually caused by lifestyle factors and can often be treated through diet and oral medications.
People with type 1 diabetes need to administer insulin on a daily basis, usually by injection, and closely monitor their blood sugar levels.
People with both types of diabetes are at a higher risk of developing depression and anxiety, and are at a higher risk of early mortality due to the unique combination of these comorbidities.
This project aims to see if a coordinated care model that has been found effective for reducing symptoms of depression and/or anxiety in patients with type 2 diabetes can be adapted for use with patients with type 1 diabetes.
The primary challenge the researchers will need to overcome is that type 1 diabetes is a more volatile disease than type 2 and can be more heavily affected by changes to a person’s social circumstances, thoughts and personal wellbeing.
The study will start by establishing a community advisory board comprised of patients, care providers and other clinical stakeholders who will help to adapt the existing intervention for people with type 1 diabetes. With guidance from the community advisory board, this process will be informed by feedback collected from patients and healthcare providers through interviews and focus group discussions.
They will then conduct a pilot randomised trial of the intervention with a group of 80 patients over a 12-month period, closely monitoring how the individuals are doing, if their symptoms of depression and anxiety are changing, if their diabetes treatment targets are met, and if their ability to self-care is impacted.
This 12-month trial will be followed by a 6-month observation period to assess the outcomes of the trial.
This project has the potential to help the millions of people living with type 1 diabetes and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety by improving the care options available to them.
Dr Johnson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Preventative Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Her work to date has focused on building research capacity in low- and middle-income countries and using her research to contribute towards the prevention and treatment of common mental disorders in people with chronic illnesses.
“I don’t believe you can transform mental health care without engaging the individuals living with mental health challenges and who stand to benefit from advances in the prevention and treatment of different mental health conditions. One of my primary goals as a public health researcher has been to elevate the patient care experiences of people with depression and/or anxiety and to design interventions that meet their expressed needs.”
This study is co-funded by JDRF.
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