For the first time, clinical practice guidelines have been released to help doctors assess and manage diabetes distress—the emotional strain of living with diabetes—in adults. The guidelines were presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Vienna, held from September 15 to 19.

Developed by Dr. Jane Speight of the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes and her colleagues, the recommendations aim to make the assessment of diabetes distress a routine part of person-centered diabetes care.

“Living with diabetes involves much more than managing blood sugar levels—it takes an emotional toll,” said Speight. “We hope that this guideline will empower health care professionals to routinely assess and address the emotional burden of diabetes, ultimately improving outcomes for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes across Europe and beyond.”

The guidelines recommend psychological and psychoeducational interventions as key strategies, though approaches differ by diabetes type. For adults with type 1 diabetes, psychological support alongside usual care and continuous glucose monitoring—rather than finger-prick testing—are suggested to help reduce distress. For type 2 diabetes, psychological and educational interventions are encouraged, while peer-support programs are not recommended as a first option.

The recommendations currently apply only to adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and do not cover children, adolescents, gestational diabetes, or rare forms of the condition.