Peer support. The missing piece in diabetes care

Living with diabetes: Impact beyond numbers  

Living with diabetes causes a heavy emotional and mental burden for both the person living with diabetes and the people who are supporting them. Peer support can help. Studies show 24% of people living with type 1 diabetes experience severe diabetes distress. People with diabetes are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety, fear of hypoglycaemia, psychological barriers to insulin use and eating disorders.

Diabetes care: A holistic approach  

While healthcare professionals bring clinical expertise, people with diabetes typically spend only about three hours per year with healthcare professionals. They manage and support themselves without professional help 24/7, making them experts in their own care. A person-centred approach values that lived experience, so the person with diabetes collaborates with their health professionals on desired outcomes.

Traditionally, diabetes care has focused on clinical management of the condition, such as medication. Support with behavioural and lifestyle change has been increasingly recognised as important. However, many people with diabetes face additional psychosocial barriers to sustaining those changes. Young adults undergoing significant life changes tend to displace diabetes care as a priority, while in older adults, comorbidity, loneliness and social isolation play a significant role impacting on health and wellbeing. Access to appropriate care and support for people living in regional and rural areas also needs to be considered.

See our groups map of Victoria.

The power of ‘me too’ 

Diabetes peer support groups help people affected by diabetes connect with those who understand what they are going through. They are also a learning environment, as members share information and lived experiences.

Programs provide long-term support to help people navigate complex healthcare systems and identify available resources in their local area. Peer support also provides much needed social and emotional support and helps peers cope with negative emotions through empathetic listening and encouragement. It can also offer support and troubleshooting advice for non-emergency diabetes-related questions between clinical appointments, such as tips on how to share glucose data with a healthcare professional before an appointment. 

Peer support: Fad and facts  

Support groups act as additional support networks promoting psychosocial wellbeing, helping people with diabetes stay motivated and reinforcing positive health behaviours. They also promote positive impacts on HbA1C in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), structurally disadvantaged, disengaged and lower health-literacy groups. Online peer support groups, are cost-effective, easy to moderate and convenient as they can be accessed after office hours.

Interested in joining Peer Support? 

We would love to hear from you! Simply fill out the below form to be in touch with the Diabetes Victoria team.