Group Psychological intervention in Patiens with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is a multi-factorial chronic disease, one of the most common public health problems nowadays, and is considered to be responsible for high morbidity and premature mortality rates. Not only does the onset of the T1DM induce physical symptoms and bodily changes that are caused by high levels of blood glucose, but T1DM also forces patients to enter a continuous process of adaptation to a completely new lifestyle, thus causing strong feelings of sadness, anxiety, uncertainty, ambivalence and confusion. Furthermore, T1DM patients suffer the consequences of being stigmatized by the social prejudice and representations of the disease, also lose the sense of wholeness of the self, and identify themselves with the disease by creating an inner world mainly consisting of the disease's experiences. The present book presents a Model of Intervention that was used for a 2-year Conjunctive Group Therapy on adult Type 1 DM patients, which combines principles and techniques from various psychotherapeutic approaches. The basic aims of the Model are: diabetes regulation, achievement of glycemic control, resolution of psychological conflicts, elimination of embarrassment regarding the communication of the diagnosis to the social environment, and redefinition of the disease. All the above targets lead to the empowerment of the "unified self ", and reinforce patients' psychological stability and self-confidence.