Diabetes: Psychological and Behavioral Factors

Diabetes mellitus includes a group of metabolic conditions that are characterized by chronic elevated blood sugar levels. Treatment of diabetes relies heavily on behavioral factors, including diet, exercise, and adherence to medication and other medical recommendations. Patients with these chronic conditions are at increased risk for stress and impaired quality of life due to the condition and its necessary lifestyle changes.

Rates of diabetes are rising, which increases the financial and health care burden of these conditions. Given that diabetes is associated with long-term physical and mental health concerns, interventions to prevent and treat this condition are vitally needed. Mental health providers can play a unique role in multidisciplinary health care teams treating patients with diabetes.

This entry reviews background information on diabetes as well as the ...

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