1
Research Review Psychology and Health-Type 1 Diabetes
By (Student name)
Affiliation (Schoo)
Course Title and Number
Instructor (Tutor)
Date
, 2
Research Review Psychology and Health-Type 1 Diabetes
Introduction to, and description of chosen illness
For this paper, I choose to focus on type 1 diabetes, which is known as high-blood
sugar condition in layman terms. The condition occurs due to damage of existing insulin-
producing pancreatic beta cells, and inability of the body to manufacture replacements. Insulin
helps in the breakdown of blood sugars and manufacture of body energy. The lack of insulin
means that these sugars are not metabolized, leading to untamed build-up of excessive sugars in
the blood. Studies have established a link between mental health problems (especially
depression) with the onset of diabetes type 1. A study by Khan et al. (2019) found that persons
with type 1 diabetes were three times likelier to develop depression than their non-diabetic
counterparts, all other factors constant. This is exacerbated by denial of a new dawn, followed
by the realization that one is in the verge of an unending journey of struggling with a condition
that is incurable, only manageable. The results are anxiety, which can grow to major depression
if not curbed.
Bădescu et al. (2016) identify the relationship between mental health illnesses and
diabetes as bidirectional. While the diagnosis with type 1 diabetes can increase the risks of a
mental health condition (e.g. depression), the opposite is also true: depression can increase the
odds of diabetes diagnosis. According to Bădescu et al. (2016), critical mental health
conditions, such as acute stress and depression may directly cause immune dysfunction or via
distressing or imparing the SNS (ympathetic nervous system) and HPA (ypothalamus –
pituitary – adrenal), thereby influencing excessive manufacturing of inflammatory cytokines. In
their large quantities, inflammatory cytokines interferes with pancreatic β-cells functionality, to
induce insulin resistance, ultimately leading to onset of type 1 diabetes. These insights
demonstrate the dire need for integration of psychological interventions to tame risks of
exacerbation of depression that co-occurs with type 1 diabetes. That’s to mean, while
psychological interventions do not directly befit the treatment of type 1 diabetes, integrating
cognitive behavioral therapy into the treatment plan can improve the benefit load for type 1
diabetes patients, especially immediately after diagnosis.
Description and appropriateness of chosen intervention
Type 1 diabetes is described as a complex condition which is elusive to
comprehensively treat. Patients of this condition are therefore, provided with a variety of
interventions to manage the condition by keeping the blood sugar levels at bay. The most
common treatment for type 1 diabetes is insulin therapy, combined with glucose monitoring.
This involves supplying insulin in the body to promote metabolic action on blood sugars to
regulate blood sugar levels. Long-serving insulin, such as detemir and glargine are commonly
Research Review Psychology and Health-Type 1 Diabetes
By (Student name)
Affiliation (Schoo)
Course Title and Number
Instructor (Tutor)
Date
, 2
Research Review Psychology and Health-Type 1 Diabetes
Introduction to, and description of chosen illness
For this paper, I choose to focus on type 1 diabetes, which is known as high-blood
sugar condition in layman terms. The condition occurs due to damage of existing insulin-
producing pancreatic beta cells, and inability of the body to manufacture replacements. Insulin
helps in the breakdown of blood sugars and manufacture of body energy. The lack of insulin
means that these sugars are not metabolized, leading to untamed build-up of excessive sugars in
the blood. Studies have established a link between mental health problems (especially
depression) with the onset of diabetes type 1. A study by Khan et al. (2019) found that persons
with type 1 diabetes were three times likelier to develop depression than their non-diabetic
counterparts, all other factors constant. This is exacerbated by denial of a new dawn, followed
by the realization that one is in the verge of an unending journey of struggling with a condition
that is incurable, only manageable. The results are anxiety, which can grow to major depression
if not curbed.
Bădescu et al. (2016) identify the relationship between mental health illnesses and
diabetes as bidirectional. While the diagnosis with type 1 diabetes can increase the risks of a
mental health condition (e.g. depression), the opposite is also true: depression can increase the
odds of diabetes diagnosis. According to Bădescu et al. (2016), critical mental health
conditions, such as acute stress and depression may directly cause immune dysfunction or via
distressing or imparing the SNS (ympathetic nervous system) and HPA (ypothalamus –
pituitary – adrenal), thereby influencing excessive manufacturing of inflammatory cytokines. In
their large quantities, inflammatory cytokines interferes with pancreatic β-cells functionality, to
induce insulin resistance, ultimately leading to onset of type 1 diabetes. These insights
demonstrate the dire need for integration of psychological interventions to tame risks of
exacerbation of depression that co-occurs with type 1 diabetes. That’s to mean, while
psychological interventions do not directly befit the treatment of type 1 diabetes, integrating
cognitive behavioral therapy into the treatment plan can improve the benefit load for type 1
diabetes patients, especially immediately after diagnosis.
Description and appropriateness of chosen intervention
Type 1 diabetes is described as a complex condition which is elusive to
comprehensively treat. Patients of this condition are therefore, provided with a variety of
interventions to manage the condition by keeping the blood sugar levels at bay. The most
common treatment for type 1 diabetes is insulin therapy, combined with glucose monitoring.
This involves supplying insulin in the body to promote metabolic action on blood sugars to
regulate blood sugar levels. Long-serving insulin, such as detemir and glargine are commonly
