Journal of Diabetes and Endocrinology Vol. 3(2), pp. 11-21, March 2012 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/JDE DOI: 10.5897/JDE11.010 ISSN 2141-2685 ©2012 Academic Journals Review Review of therapeutic groups for type 1 diabetes mellitus patients Siousioura D. 45-47 Ypsylantou St., 10676, Athens, Greece. E-mail:
[email protected]. Accepted 26 January, 2012 The present review examines therapeutic groups for type 1 diabetes mellitus patients. There is a report on the history of group therapeutic interventions for diabetes patients and a presentation of the four types of groups namely: a) medical, b) educational or psychoeducational, c) psychotherapeutic or social and emotional support groups, and d) groups with combined approaches and techniques. The transition from medical to educational and then psychotherapeutic groups for diabetes treatment represents the evolution of groups for diabetes patients over time, which has eventually led to the need for more holistic approach of the disease and thus to the formation of a model that combines all aspects of the disease and the patient. Key words: Type 1 diabetes mellitus, patients, group therapy. INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease and a significant interpersonal relations, modify dysfunctional beliefs and public health problem, as diabetes complications are change dysfunctional behaviors (Kataki, 2009; responsible for high morbidity and in many cases Nudelman, 1986; Papastylianou, 2006). premature mortality (Atkinson and Maclaren, 1994; The present study aims at reviewing group therapy for Jörgens et al., 2002; Mygdalis, 2000). Type 1 diabetes type 1 diabetes mellitus patients. The following four basic mellitus is developed early in a person’s life and insulin types of group interventions in type 1 diabetes mellitus injection is an integral part of the medical therapy of the treatment are being examined: 1.