Reducing parental distress to improve children’s type 1 diabetes care

Tânia Brandão

ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Portugal

Type 1 diabetes requires constant daily management. Parents often carry much of the responsibility for their child’s care, which creates a major emotional burden that affects parental well-being. High parental stress may also contribute to poorer blood sugar control in children, increasing the risk of complications. This project aims to adapt and evaluate an online group programme for parents.

The intervention, delivered by videoconference, will combine information, practical problem-solving, emotional support and peer exchange. The research team will examine both the practical delivery of the programme and its value for families to identify which interventions are effective and which need improvement. The researchers will also adapt the programme to the Portuguese healthcare context and assess whether it is feasible, acceptable and effective.

The project addresses an important gap in paediatric diabetes care, which often prioritises medical and technological management over caregivers’ emotional needs. If successful, the approach could provide a scalable, family-centred support model that improves parental health alongside diabetes outcomes in children.

A Feasibility RCT to Reduce Parental Distress and Improve Children’s Glycemic Control in Type 1 Diabetes

€76.583,00