Psychologische implicaties van diabetes mellitus

- Daily self-care is the cornerstone of diabetes management.

- Psychosocial factors play an important role in the self-management of patients with diabetes. Diabetes demands a lot of the patient and his or her relatives in terms of motivation and adaptation.

- Adaptation problems may occur in response to the diagnosis, but also when the patient is confronted with repeated hypoglycaemic episodes, or when switching to insulin treatment and when complications develop.

- Psychological comorbidities are prevalent among people with diabetes. In particular eating disorders, anxiety, depression and sexual problems warrant special attention. These problems are often associated with poorer diabetes control.

- Guidelines exist for psychological diagnosis and treatment in diabetes. Systematic monitoring of psychological well-being as part of routine diabetes care is advocated.

- Psychological support contributes to better management of diabetes, but this form of therapy is not sufficiently covered by diagnosis/treatment reimbursements in the Dutch health service system.

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2008;152:2395-9