Promoting Diabetes Self-Management in a Psychiatric Hospital

Abstract

ABSTRACT Type 2 diabetes and psychiatric illnesses have a bidirectional association, influencing each other in direct but independent ways. People with psychiatric illnesses are more likely than the general population to develop type 2 diabetes, in part because antipsychotic medications affect the metabolic system, disrupting glucose metabolism, and also because they lack diabetes self-management education and self-care skills. This study assessed the effectiveness of diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) in patients with mental illness and diabetes using the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire. Analysis of paired responses to the pre- and post-DSMES survey questions showed a statistically significant increase in diabetes self-management knowledge after participation in the education sessions. These results emphasized the importance of DSMES in strengthening patients' knowledge and skills, with additional support from their psychiatrist and medical team.