Managing the psychosocial impact of type 1 diabetes in young people

What you need to know
Adolescent and young people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) experience higher rates of psychological distress, periods of burnout, and feelings of being unable to cope with the daily burden of living with diabetes, compared with those who are diagnosed as adults
Family, peer, and psychological support and education on living with diabetes can help to reduce distress and improve management of diabetes and wellbeing
Consider using psychological screening assessment tools at diagnosis and annually, and developing appropriate local referral pathways to ensure adequate mental health support
Psychological and behavioural interventions, such as solution focused therapy, coping skills training, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy, or family centred interventions aimed at supporting the emotional wellbeing and mental health of people with T1D have shown significant improvements in quality of life and overall management of diabetes