Understanding Diabetes Distress
By Dr. Sabiha Banu
KARACHI: The National Institute of Diabetes & Endocrinology (NIDE), in collaboration with the A.Q. Khan Institute of Behavioural Sciences (AQK IBS) and the Pakistan Endocrine Society (PES), organized a workshop on Diabetes Distress (DD) aimed at raising awareness about the psychological burden associated with diabetes.
NIDE at DUHS in collaboration with the A.Q. Khan Institute of Behavioral Sciences (AQK IBS) and the Pakistan Endocrine Society (PES), organized a workshop on Diabetes Distress at IBS recently. Picture shows Dr. Shoaib Ahmed. Dr. Musarrat Riaz, Dr. Dureshahwar Hamza and Dr. Zareen speaking on this occasion.
It is noteworthy that PES, as a key member of the South Asian Federation of Endocrine Societies (SAFES), played a pivotal role in the development of a consensus document on Diabetes Distress, which was published as a special supplement in the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association (JPMA) in August 2023.
Recognizing the growing prevalence of diabetes distress and the unmet needs of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in identifying and managing this condition in routine clinical practice, PES constituted a multidisciplinary working group on Diabetes Distress. This group includes endocrinologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, diabetes educators, and patient advocates, and operates under the leadership of Dr. Ammena Moazzam, Executive Member of PES.
The working group has conducted a series of workshops across Pakistan, focusing on practical strategies for the assessment and management of diabetes distress, thereby contributing significantly to professional capacity building and improved patient-centered care.
Dr. Musarrat Riaz, Director of the National Institute of Diabetes & Endocrinology (NIDE), delivered a comprehensive presentation on Diabetes Distress, specifically tailored for healthcare professionals. She emphasized the critical importance of early identification and empathetic communication in the routine care of individuals living with diabetes mellitus, underscoring the need for a more holistic and patient-centered approach in clinical practice.
Dr. Shoaib Ahmed, Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the A.Q. Khan Institute of Behavioural Sciences (AQK IBS), provided valuable insights into the neurobiology of diabetes distress. He elaborated on the roles of stress hormones and neuropeptides that contribute to emotional dysregulation in individuals with diabetes. Dr. Ahmed also explored how these neurobiological mechanisms intersect with both mental health and metabolic control, highlighting the complex bidirectional relationship between psychological well-being and glycemic management in diabetes care.
Dr. Dureshahwar Hamza, Clinical Psychologist at AQK IBS elaborated on the practical aspects of Diabetes distress, including psychological interventions and emphasizing the bidirectional link between mental health and glycaemic control. Her talk highlighted the intense need of a team-based approach in improving patient adherence and quality of life.
The event concluded with a thought-provoking role play by medical students of DUHS, demonstrating real-life patient-doctor relationship and communication strategies that can be employed to address diabetes distress in clinical practice.
This multidisciplinary workshop served as a crucial reminder of the frequently missed emotional aspect of diabetes care and raised importance and awareness for incorporating an integrated mental health service in diabetes management.
That’s really nice effort. Multidisciplinary approach must be great innovation to deal with the menace of diabetes. Burden of diabetes and related health problems is increasing day by day. But health system’s capacity to manage it is compromised mainly by the fact that such innovative ways are not being implemented. And obviously no one at policy level cares about this issue