Body emotional map: an innovative and useful tool to improve parents´ adaptation to the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes of their child

Objectives: The diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in a child is a traumatic event for parents. The path of a good adaptation to the child´s disease is a purpose of the therapeutic education to attain and keep a good quality of life. Aim of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new tool Body Emotional Map (BEM) in helping parents to overcome the trauma of T1DM diagnosis and to achieve the best adaptation. Methods: Sixty-two parents (29 mothers, 33 fathers) of 36 children with T1DM (age = 11.3 3.3 yrs; T1DM duration >1 yr; HbA1c = 57 11 mmol/mol) were recruited in a 3-days educational group intervention study. The re-examine of the traumatic event of the T1DM diagnosis through the BEM path included spatial and time-line anchorage, retrace of the future, emotional awareness, interactive discussion. Relaxing technique, diaphragmatic breathing, and guided visualization were used by 1 psychologist, 1 counselor and 1 pediatric diabetologist. Self-report questionnaires [Diabetes Related Distress (DRD), Parent Stress Index Short Form scale (PSI-SF), Fear of Hypoglycemia Survey (FHS), Parent Health Locus of Control Scale (PHLOC), and Health Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36)] were filled by parents at baseline, 1 month (M1), and 3 months (M3) after the intervention. Results: Respect to baseline, at time M3 we found a significant score reduction of the “difficult child” subscale of the PSI-SF in both parents (p < 0.05), of the DRD in mothers (59.0 2.6 vs. 52.4 2.7, p = 0.03), and of the “parental distress” subscale of the PSI-SF in fathers (24.9 1.5 vs. 21.8 1.5, p = 0.04) . Moreover, the social functioning score of the SF-36 was significantly improved in fathers at time M1 (81.3 3.2 vs. 88.3 3.2, p = 0.03). Conclusions: In T1DM we must always to consider the emotional reaction occurring when the diagnosis is given both in children and parents. BEM path seems to reduce stress and to improve social functioning of parents of children and adolescents with T1DM.