In our diabetes service, we did not receive any funding from local health care organisations for psychology services, so we introduced a counselling service for people with type 1 diabetes, using charitable funds, and other money raised by our staff. Our aim was to see if we could address the reportedly higher levels of anxiety in people with diabetes,3 and whether this would be associated with better glycaemic control. We evaluated this new service to assess the effects of the counselling course on glycaemic control, and on the psychological well-being LDK378 in vitro of people who attended. The service is available for all people with type 1 diabetes,

with most referrals to the counsellor coming from other health care professionals in our diabetes service. When counselling is discussed with the person, we make it clear that any issue of concern can be discussed (not only diabetes-related subjects) and that it is entirely confidential, with the counsellor simply informing the referrer of the patient’s attendance (or not!) without divulging any details of what was discussed. Each person receives a six-week course of 50-minute one-to-one sessions with a qualified and experienced counsellor. The style of counselling used within the service is an integrative

approach with a person-centred background, which enables the counsellor to adapt Selleckchem XL765 the style offered depending on the individual and the issues that they are presenting. Person-centred counselling is used with all those who attend the course and offers a non-judgemental approach where they are encouraged to talk freely about their anxieties and fears.5 No judgement is offered as to whether they are right or wrong and Unoprostone the time is used to enable the person to explore their thoughts

and feelings and to establish their wants and needs. This style of counselling facilitates reflection about self-care or risk taking, such as the occasional omission of medication. Transactional analysis6 is frequently used with people during the course, as it helps the individual to focus on their ability to change their self-management decisions, and focuses on clear goals. This theory in itself is integrative as it incorporates elements of psychoanalytic, person-centred and cognitive approaches, explaining how people function and express their personality in their behaviour. Creative methods are also used within the counselling. An example of this is when the person is requested to choose a picture to reflect their relationship with their diabetes as it is today and how they would like it to be, thus helping the individual to describe their feelings about their diabetes without the use of words. This may be enlightening to the person with diabetes and can offer an insight into how they may be struggling with this all-encompassing illness.