Good news!  Sharing your experiences with other people with Type I diabetes (T1D) has been shown to be effective at easing your distress.  Many hospitals offer programs for people who have been recently diagnosed, but what about long-term sufferers?

In a new study, researchers crafted support and education groups specifically for older adults who have Type I diabetes.  These patients had been living with T1D for decades, and while they were knowledgeable about the disease, it was causing them emotional stress in their lives.  Amazingly, researchers found that attending just one meeting decreased the number of people’s “problem areas” in regards to T1D.  After a year, people who attended several meetings not only had lower anxiety about their disease but also had significantly improved HbA1c scores!  Participants reported that simply sharing experiences with peers was the most effective part of the program.  Healthcare professionals such as nurses facilitated the groups in the study, but researchers suggest that less structured support groups of only peers would also be helpful.

Beyond anxiety, keeping up with new advances and increasing your knowledge can also come from support groups.  Another study looked at how people with T1D educate themselves after an initial hospital-based program.  Again, support groups with peers and healthcare professionals were shown to be the most effective anxiety-reducing method.  It looks like having a safe place to ask questions and get correct answers from both knowledgeable professionals and experienced peers really help to ease peoples’ minds.

You may be wondering how to find yourself a support group.  Thankfully, there are a variety of groups established for T1D.  There is Type One Nation which offers support groups both in person and online forums.  They even have specialized groups for women, newly diagnosed diabetics, parents, and caregivers.  Beyond that, you can also search for local groups held in your area through the American Diabetes Association.  Finally, your local hospital system can also be a great resource for locating groups.

So if Type I diabetes is causing you stress in your life, consider attending a support group.  Remember- just one can help!

Special thanks to Cynthia Vardhan, a graduate student in nursing at the Ohio State University, for writing this article.