New Clinical Practice Guidelines for Managing Diabetes-Related Distress

On September 25, 2025, the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) published the first-ever clinical practice guidelines focused specifically on assessing and managing diabetes distress in adults. These guidelines were unveiled at the EASD annual meeting held in Vienna from September 15 to 19, aiming to enhance the psychological care of individuals living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Developed by Jane Speight, Ph.D., from the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes, along with colleagues, the guidelines emphasize the importance of routine screening for diabetes distress as part of person-centered diabetes care. They advocate for standardized assessment procedures and recommend integrating psychological and psychoeducational interventions into regular treatment protocols.

For adults with type 1 diabetes, the guidelines suggest incorporating psychological therapies alongside standard management, and recommend using continuous glucose monitoring to help reduce distress. In cases of type 2 diabetes, psychological and psychoeducational interventions are advised, with educational strategies preferred over peer-support approaches.

It is important to note that these guidelines do not address diabetes distress management in children, adolescents, or in cases related to gestational or other rarer forms of diabetes. The overarching goal is to empower healthcare professionals to recognize and treat emotional burdens associated with diabetes, ultimately improving patient outcomes across Europe and beyond.

For more details, the full clinical practice guideline can be accessed here. Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-clinical-guidelines-issued-diabetes-distress.html