Perceptions and experiences of living with coexisting type 2 diabetes and severe mental illness: a scoping review

Abstract

Aims To map existing research‐based knowledge of everyday life and illness management among people with coexisting type 2 diabetes and severe mental illness, and to identify study designs, aims, populations and themes. Methods A systematic literature search was performed on 16 April 2019 using Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Cinahl, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science to conduct a scoping review. Included studies were summarized with regard to the quantity of research, the study designs, aims, populations and themes Results From 3406 records, we included 23 studies about everyday life and illness management among people with coexisting type 2 diabetes and severe mental illness. Four studies were qualitative (observations, interviews and focus groups), and 19 were quantitative (observational and interventions) and used questionnaires. Five themes emerged in the findings: (1) diet and exercise, but not other diabetes self‐care activities, are consistently compromised in the target group; (2) psychiatric exacerbation diminishes diabetes self‐care; (3) social support and high self‐efficacy improve diabetes self‐care; (4) use of healthcare services is compromised; and (5) quality of life and well‐being is poor. Conclusions The limited research into the studied population’s experiences with coexisting type 2 diabetes and severe mental illness is characterized by its heterogeneity in aims and methods and a strong focus on diabetes management and treatment. Further research focusing on the management of both conditions in everyday life is needed to improve specialized and integrated care targeting the population.

Need for improved diabetes support among people with psychiatric disorders and diabetes treated in psychiatric outpatient clinics: results from a Danish cross-sectional study

“… 30 The lower frequencies of healthy eating and physical activity among persons with psychiatric disorders and diabetes compared with persons with diabetes only are consistent with previous findings from a review which also found that people with diabetes and psychiatric disorders experience additional barriers to diabetes management related to the psychiatric disorder. 15 …”

“…14 One study found increased level of diabetes distress in people with psychiatric disorders and diabetes, however without quantifying the proportion of people with diabetes distress. 15 Few studies have examined quality of life 16–18 and diabetes self-care 14 19 20 in people with psychiatric disorders and diabetes. High diabetes distress and low quality of life are likely to be even more prevalent in people with psychiatric disorders and diabetes compared with people with diabetes only, and psychiatric disorders may add additional barriers to diabetes self-management.…”

“…High diabetes distress and low quality of life are likely to be even more prevalent in people with psychiatric disorders and diabetes compared with people with diabetes only, and psychiatric disorders may add additional barriers to diabetes self-management. 15 21 …”

Interventions involving own treatment choice for people living with coexisting severe mental illness and type 1 or 2 diabetes: A scoping review

“…Alongside this, being diagnosed with diabetes (type 1 or 2) increases the risk of developing a depression 6,7 . People diagnosed with both type 1 and 2 diabetes and severe mental illness (SMI) experiences high or very fluctuating levels of mental distress, affecting social function and daily living 8‐10 . In addition, distress is often caused by the experience of stigma and the lack of recognition of both conditions in treatment and personal care preferences as people with both conditions are less likely to receive diabetes services and care support, such as diabetes education and HbA 1c testing 2,11 .…”

Listening to people with diabetes

“…In the first paper, Rønne et al . [2] describe the results of a systematic review of 23 studies of people living with comorbid type 2 diabetes and severe mental illness. During their analysis of the four qualitative and 19 quantitative studies, five themes emerged.…”