Improved care for patients with type 2 diabetes and schizophrenia

The frequency of T2D is a result of lifestyle, reduced understanding of the disease, medical treatment and genetics. Research shows a significant excess mortality with this group of patients, and they live on average 15-20 years less than the population in general.

AIM

The project was an explorative study based on the research design Participatory Design, and it aimed to investigate if a new health technology solution could improve diabetes care for patients with schizophrenia and T2D.

The purpose was to clarify the diabetic and schizophrenic patients’ need for care in close cooperation with the patients, relatives and health professionals to improve care for the patients across sectors.

The project aimed to contribute with extensive knowledge of the patient groups' experiences and their needs in relation to diabetes care across sectors. This in the hopes of creating an understanding of how to develop interventions to meet the patients’ needs by actively involving those who are usually excluded.

RESULTS

The results revealed that people with schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes have particular challenges in distinguishing disease symptoms and maintaining good routines for diabetes self-care. This is because the two diseases exacerbate each other, which can lead to increased social isolation, stigmatisation and lack of support from health professionals.

The study also highlighted significant organisational challenges, including lack of cross-sectoral cooperation, lack of resources and unclear frameworks, which hinder holistic treatment. This creates frustration among health professionals, who often have to prioritise acute needs over long-term solutions.

To address some of these challenges, a diagnosis-specific training manual was developed through co-creation processes (workshops) as an alternative to an otherwise planned mentor/mentee programme. The manual will form the basis for training mentors to support people with schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes in their everyday lives to improve their diabetes self-care.

The study provided important insights into the complex challenges of living with both conditions and highlighted the need to include the voices of users in the development of future interventions. This may help reduce stigma and promote more coherent treatment across somatic and psychiatric care. Co-creation processes with vulnerable groups, such as people with schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes, remain under-researched, and this study has therefore added new and important knowledge. It serves as a stepping stone to understanding how such processes can be strengthened and targeted to meet specific needs and create more effective and inclusive solutions.

PARTNERS

The project was a PhD project by Tanja Juhl Mikkelsen and was anchored in Steno Diabetes Centre Odense. It was done in collaboration with Lokalpsykiatri Odense, Lokalpsykiatri Aabenraa og Steno Partner SVS.

EXTERNAL FUNDING

The project was partially funded by the fund Psykiatriens Forksningsfond in the Region of Southern Denmark.