Individual-level intervention approaches in pediatric diabetes management

Abstract

The focus of this chapter is on the relatively limited numbers of individual-level intervention approaches in pediatric diabetes populations. We provide an overview of “stand-alone” individual-level interventions for children and young people that have been described in the published literature while also including some multicomponent interventions where the work with the individual comprises the most significant part of the intervention design. The interventions are presented in three main sections: psychotherapeutic approaches which occur in addition to routine care (e.g., cognitive behavior therapy and motivational interviewing), individual interventions within routine care (e.g., goal setting, preconception counselling), and telemedicine. The fit between intervention model, the developmental stage of the young person, and the context of the wider system is discussed. Teams need a menu of approaches to enable them to offer long-term support, and individual approaches have their place on that menu, alongside family and community interventions. To optimize outcomes, it is important that the wider context within which the young person is managing their diabetes care is not neglected when offering such support.