Whilst most health care professionals are increasingly adept at managing all aspects of diabetes, what is often overlooked is the fact that the patient lives with the condition 24/7, the majority of this time away from their diabetes team. Most of patients are able to manage their diabetes without a problem but for some, living with a long term condition can cause a variety of psychological problems which impact on their diabetes control as well as their quality of life. Whilst patient education and empowerment can help with coping strategies, for some patients, this is not enough and they need access to more professional psychological help. Indeed access to psychological therapies is a recommendation within the National Service Framework back in 2001. Following this, NICE guidance regarding the management of Type 1 diabetes highlighted the importance of psychological support.

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