The Role of Occupational Therapy in Diabetes Self-Management Interventions

Abstract

Approximately 23.6 million people in the United States are living with diabetes, a disease that is a leading cause of disabling conditions including blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart disease, and stroke. Although these complications of diabetes can be delayed or prevented through intensive diabetes self-management (DSM), maintaining control of the disease can be burdensome and negatively impact quality of life. Occupational therapy has a largely untapped potential to assist individuals who struggle with managing diabetes in the context of everyday life, yet there is little discussion of DSM in the occupational therapy literature. The author conducts a systematic review of the existing occupational therapy literature on diabetes, examines the current state of DSM interventions, and discusses a potential role for occupational therapy using programs such as Lifestyle Redesign ® .

Participation in Occupation and Diabetes Self-Management in Emerging Adulthood

“…This research offers a preliminary framework for occupational therapists to assist young adults with diabetes and other chronic illnesses in reconciling these competing demands. Pyatak, E. (2011). Participation in occupation and diabetes self-management in emerging adulthood.…”

Activity and Occupational Demands of Type Two Diabetes: The Voice of Mexican-American Older Adults

“…Pilot intervention studies were: Piven & Duran, 2014;Haltiwanger & Galindo, 2013;Haltiwanger, 2012a;Haltiwanger, 2012b;Haltiwanger & Brutus, 2012). Exploratory studies were also published (Thompson, 2014;Fritz, 2013;Pyatak et al, 2013a;Pyatak et al, 2013b;Piven & Nazeran, 2013;Pyatak, 2011a;Pyatak, 2011b;Hwang et al, 2009), suggesting the need for intervention.…”

Use of Participant-Generated Photography in a Research Contribution Course

“…As a person with diabetes myself, I was frustrated by the lack of OT research regarding the development of the habits and routines needed to accomplish the complex occupations involved in diabetes self-management (Pyatak, 2011). I felt that my students could learn something meaningful about diabetes selfmanagement and about research at the same time.…”