Effects of a group-based counselling programme on diabetes-related stress, coping, psychological well-being and metabolic control in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes

Abstract

This study was designed to determine whether participation in a group-based counselling programme would result in reduced diabetes-related stress, improved coping and psychological well-being as well as achieving glycaemic control closer to an acceptable level. Effects of the programme were evaluated implementing an experimental design with a sample comprising 63 Norwegian adults with both types of diabetes aged between 25 and 70. At the 6-month follow-up, results indicate that the group-based counselling programme tested in the present study has the potential to reduce diabetes-related stress and self-blame as well as to improve coping in adults with diabetes. Moreover, results suggest that the programme can help participants to achieve more acceptable HbA1c levels as well. The present study indicates that this group-based counselling programme is feasible in the sense of suggesting that cognitive restructuring and problem-solving approaches in groups may be useful in helping people adjust to diabetes.