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BackgroundThe self-management of adults with type 2 diabetes proves to be a continuous challenge. Within the South African context, socio-economic disparities, unequal access to healthcare and varying healthcare beliefs augment these challenges. CBT is a time-sensitive and structured intervention that has been effectively implemented for chronic diseases. CBT has been employed to improve psychological outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes, but there is limited research on how this therapeutic intervention can enhance self-management outcomes of type 2 diabetes. Adaptable CBT-based interventions are needed to promote a holistic approach to type 2 diabetes self-management and empower a broader range of healthcare professionals to provide targeted interventions. Flexible interventions can promote patient engagement and be integrated into various healthcare settings where patients already access services.MethodThe study employed document analysis to develop CBT-informed guidelines. Data was analysed by means of content analysis. Two research studies formed the dataset, and categories and subcategories were identified. The categories were integrated and used to develop the CBT-informed guidelines.ResultsThese guidelines were based on core CBT components and divided into the introduction, working, and consolidation phases. The guidelines specified the roles of healthcare practitioners who would implement them and provided skills and techniques for healthcare professionals and patients within each phase.ConclusionThe CBT-based interventions aimed to provide a tool for healthcare practitioners and patients in terms of flexibility, accessibility, and personalisation.

AimThis study aimed to obtain an in-depth understanding of the experiences of adolescents with well-controlled type 1 diabetes who were adjusting to closed-loop technology.MethodInterpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was conducted. Five participants (aged 15–18) were recruited from the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology in Parktown, South Africa, to participate in semi-structured interviews about their experiences of adjusting to closed-loop technology.ResultsFive superordinate themes emerged (1): learning to trust the technology (2), making diabetes visible (3), building a relationship with diabetes (4), empowering support networks, and (5) transformative positive outcomes. The findings demonstrate that closed-loop technology positively impacts the adjustment to living with type 1 diabetes. However, as highlighted by all participants, the individual’s engagement and management are crucial. Based on the adolescents’ experiences, interventions should focus on psychological factors.

BackgroundThe association between illness perception and diabetes management has been well established in adults but is not clearly understood for adolescents. This article reflects on qualitative findings on illness perception from the perspective of adolescents, and suggests future research to operationalize findings.MethodsQualitative document analysis was conducted on four research projects forming part of the Smile with Diabetes project, which aims to investigate psychosocial variables in diabetes management, including illness perception, within the adolescent and youth populations. Thematic analysis was used to derive four themes from the qualitative and review studies examined in the document analysis.ResultsThe voices of the adolescents were evident as four prominent themes: 1) living with diabetes leads to a sense of being different; 2) integration of diabetes into identity is critical, but difficult to achieve; 3) fear of potential negative consequences motivates adherence to treatment; 4) diabetes management is difficult, but possible.ConclusionThe findings not only confirmed the importance of illness perception in the management of diabetes by adolescents, but also indicate that illness perceptions should be investigated from a developmental perspective, specifically taking identity development into consideration in this group. Adolescents should be made aware of how their thinking about diabetes and its management affects their experience of living with diabetes and its future management. This study further contributes to the literature by focusing on the patient’s voice in understanding living with a chronic condition, and reassures that positive outcomes are possible when living with a chronic condition such as diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic and lifelong condition that requires adequate behavior management in order to meet desired health outcomes. The effects of T1DM on the neurocognitive functioning of affected individuals raise concerns about how the disease may influence executive functioning. Inhibition is a core component of executive functioning, and plays a vital role in self-regulation and the restriction of impulsive behaviors. Inhibition may thus play a vital role in the behavior management of people with T1DM. The aim of this study was to identify current gaps in existing knowledge regarding the relationship between T1DM, inhibition, and behavior management. This study employed a critical review design to analyze and synthesize the current scientific literature. Twelve studies were identified through an appraisal process, and the data extracted were thematically analyzed and integrated. The findings of this study indicate that a possible cycle arises between these three constructs, in which T1DM affects inhibition, inhibition affects behavior management, and poor behavior management affects inhibition. It is recommended that future research should focus more specifically on this relationship.