Emotional support in type 2 diabetes

Half of all people with type 2 diabetes will experience emotional or mental health problems alongside psychosocial challenges and diabetes-related distress. In this qualitative study exploring patient and health professional experiences, Hadjiconstantinou and colleagues found that emotional support for people with type 2 diabetes was absent due to poor staff training, lack of confidence, and time constraints.

Risks and benefits of long-term treatments

GPs are responsible for managing most long-term conditions in the UK, and knowledge on risk or benefits of treatment being prescribed is increasingly important as polypharmacy and multimorbidity increase. In this cross-sectional survey of over 500 GPs, Treadwell and colleagues asked GPs about their knowledge on risk and benefits of treatments that are regularly prescribed. Their results show that knowledge amongst GPs is poor and could meaningfully impact clinical decision-making and impede conversations with patients regarding treatment choices.

Motivational interviewing by a GP in the management of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes affects 400 million people globally and is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Efforts to prevent the disease are an international priority. Charles and colleagues examined the effect of training GPs in motivational interviewing on the risk of death or cardiovascular events (stroke, heart attack, amputation) in people with type 2 diabetes. While they found that motivational interviewing did not have this effect, their secondary analysis hinted at some benefit for people at risk of developing diabetes.