Published: 28 October, 2025 One in two people will experience a mental health condition by age 75.1 For those living with diabetes, the reality is even more pronounced: they are two to three times more likely to have depression or anxiety compared to the general population. For health professionals, this means that supporting the emotional health of people living with diabetes is not an added service – it’s an essential part of effective, holistic diabetes care. Why mental health matters in diabetes care While living with diabetes is different for everyone, at some stage, most people will need support for their emotional health. For many people with diabetes, constantly managing blood glucose levels, fear of complications, and the stigma associated with diabetes can take a significant mental toll. Diabetes distress is the emotional burden arising from living with and managing diabetes. It becomes serious when emotions, like frustration, guilt, sadness, or worry, affect a person’s daily life, including how they manage their diabetes. Severe diabetes distress affects one in four people with type 1 diabetes and one in five people with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes.2 Other emotional health challenges that people with diabetes may experience include: fear of hypoglycaemia psychological barriers to insulin use depression anxiety disorders eating problems When to have a conversation about emotional wellbeing Integrating mental health support starts with normalising the conversation. Routine check-ins about emotional wellbeing should be as standard as reviewing blood glucose logs or doing blood pressure checks. However, getting the conversation started is particularly important: when a person is newly diagnosed during diabetes management planning appointments if you notice emotional distress when you can see that a person is not managing their diabetes well. Starting the conversation and following through Start by making a simple statement that normalises mental health challenges, such as “Sometimes it can be challenging to live with diabetes.” Then use open-ended questions, such as “What feels most challenging for you right now?” to create space for clients to talk about their experience. Listening and showing empathy will help you to assess whether they need extra support and how you can help them develop an achievable action plan. This may include referring them to another health professional.. Remember to book a follow-up appointment for people with mental health challenges. It’s a good chance to check in on their progress and see if their action plan needs adjusting. Be prepared to offer more support at this time. Using reliable guides and screening tools The National Diabetes Service Scheme (NDSS) has a range of resources that you can use to embed mental health support into diabetes care. The 7As model – a structured, flexible, seven-step process to identify and support people with mental health challenges Condition-specific toolkits – tailored resources for managing specific mental health conditions Validated screening questionnaires – easy-to-use tools for assessing common mental health concerns, e.g. the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) Scale Practical guides for health professionals – helpful resources to support conversations and care planning including a comprehensive guide to integrating mental health support into clinical practice for health professionals. Moving towards more holistic diabetes care As a health professional, emotional care often starts with you. During diabetes care appointments, you can help people feel understood, capable and supported to manage their diabetes holistically. By incorporating mental health support into your regular practice, you can empower clients with diabetes to prioritise their emotional wellbeing as much as their physical health. Half the population to have a mental health disorder by 75 – Queensland Brain Institute – University of Queensland ↩︎https://www.diabetesqualified.com.au/diabetes-distress/ ↩︎
