Psychosocial aspects of diabetes technology

Abstract

Aim To identify key psychosocial research in the domain of diabetes technology. Results Four trajectories of psychosocial diabetes technology research are identified that characterize research over the past 25 years. Key evidence is reviewed on psychosocial outcomes of technology use as well as psychosocial barriers and facilitating conditions of diabetes technology uptake. Psychosocial interventions that address modifiable barriers and psychosocial factors have proven to be effective in improving glycaemic and self‐reported outcomes in diabetes technology users. Conclusions Psychosocial diabetes technology research is essential for designing interventions and education programmes targeting the person with diabetes to facilitate optimized outcomes associated with technology uptake. Psychosocial aspects of diabetes technology use and related research will be even more important in the future given the advent of systems for automated insulin delivery and the increasingly widespread digitalization of diabetes care.

COVID‐19 and diabetes

“…In line with many other medical organizations, Diabetes UK took the decision to cancel this year's Professional Conference in a bid to limit spread of the virus. Although people cannot hear the lectures, the accompanying review articles are still available in the journal [13–15].…”

Artificial Pancreas Control Strategies Used for Type 1 Diabetes Control and Treatment: A Comprehensive Analysis

“…However, some participants experienced confrontation with the CGM output as intrusive, whereas others reported frustration due to the technical failures and difficulty in trusting the devices. Active and passive self-management behaviours were reported by the participants, mirroring individual differences in attitudes and coping styles [48]. Insulin making and subsequent release from the β-cells is controlled by multiple players, including glucose, peptide hormones, neurotransmitters, and other related compounds [49,50].…”

“…However, some participants experienced confrontation with the CGM output as intrusive, whereas others reported frustration due to the technical failures and difficulty in trusting the devices. Active and passive self-management behaviours were reported by the participants, mirroring individual differences in attitudes and coping styles [48].…”

Psychosocial factors associated with HbA1c in adults with insulin pump‐treated type 1 diabetes: a systematic review

“…This kind of diabetes self‐management, including insulin pump management, may simply reflect the quality of the training that the individual has been offered; however, diabetes self‐management behaviour is also very likely to be influenced by psychosocial factors, which in the present paper are defined as social support and/or individual psychological factors. The importance of analysing the proposed causal link between psychosocial factors, self‐management behaviour and metabolic insulin pump outcomes, such as HbA 1c , is recognized by many but addressed by only few [6–8]. To date, no overview exists of studies examining quantitatively measured associations between psychosocial factors and HbA 1c in adults using insulin pumps.…”