Integrating conversations about disordered eating in children and young people into routine type 1 diabetes care: a practical guide

Abstract

A higher proportion of children and young people (CYP) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) present with disordered eating compared to CYP without T1D. Due to the complexities of T1D management in addition to eating disorder treatment, it is essential to discuss T1D and Disordered Eating (T1DE) with families to screen early and frequently. This enables those most vulnerable to be identified and treated early. The aim of this paper was to: (1) identify the barriers for health care professionals (HCPs) communicating with families about T1DE; and (2) identify practical ways to overcome these barriers. This paper discusses qualitative data from interviews with 10 parents about how they would like conversations about T1DE to be facilitated by HCPs. All parents had a child aged 11–14 with T1D and were recruited through the PRIORITY trial. Four main barriers to communicating about T1DE were identified. These were: (1) parents fearing that conversation about T1DE will increase the likelihood of T1DE developing; (2) psychology not being integrated into routine care; (3) concerns about sensitive communication around the topic of weight; and (4) parents feeling overwhelmed. Practical suggestions for ways in which HCPs can overcome these barriers are discussed. The paper provides a practical guide for HCPs to help them facilitate conversations about T1DE with families in order to allow earlier detection, prevention and intervention of disordered eating within this population. Copyright © 2023 John Wiley & Sons.