'Mental Health Professionals Have Never Mentioned My Diabetes, They Don't Get Into That': A Qualitative Study of Support Needs in Adults With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes and Severe Mental Illness

摘要

Objectives: People with severe mental illness (SMI) have a 2- to 3-fold higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (DM), an increased risk of subsequent DM complications, higher mortality and poorer health-related quality of life. Although mental health professionals have an important role in supporting people with SMI in diabetes management, their primary focus is often on mental health, not physical conditions. Few studies have investigated patients' experiences of living with coexisting SMI and DM to identify their needs for diabetes support from mental health professionals.