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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A pilot study found that "Diabetes Journey," a digital, amusement-park-themed intervention, reduced stress and burnout in adolescents with type 1 diabetes while improving quality of life. The program targets executive functioning skills like planning, emotional regulation, and problem-solving. Though promising, researchers say more testing is needed before it's ready for widespread clinical use.
Managing type 1 diabetes as a teenager is no small feat — and a new digital intervention called Diabetes Journey (DJ) is designed to make it a little easier. Published in The Journal of Pediatrics, a pilot randomized controlled trial from Cincinnati Children's Hospital found that DJ reduced stress and burnout and improved quality of life in adolescents with type 1 diabetes, compared to enhanced standard of care (ESC).
The amusement-park-themed digital program targets real-world barriers to diabetes management by building executive functioning skills — think planning, working memory, emotional regulation, and structured problem-solving. Unlike ESC, which focused on what adolescents should know, DJ focused on how to handle challenges when diabetes gets hard. Notably, the biggest benefits emerged at 6 months post-treatment, suggesting these skills take time to take root.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Burnout and stress are major — yet often overlooked — barriers to diabetes self-management in teens. DJ offers a scalable, engaging approach to address these barriers, potentially laying the groundwork for better long-term health outcomes.
