The view and experiences of professionals caring for adults with intellectual disabilities with type 2 diabetes

Background The intellectual disability population is ageing and increasing with more presenting with long-term health such as type two diabetes. There is limited evidence of the view and experiences of professionals who... [ view full abstract ]

Background
The intellectual disability population is ageing and increasing with more presenting with long-term health such as type two diabetes. There is limited evidence of the view and experiences of professionals who treat patients with intellectual disabilities with type two diabetes, despite the growing prevalence of the condition within the population.

Aim and outcomes of the study
To explore the views and experiences of professionals on caring for adults with intellectual disabilities with type 2 diabetes and identify options that enable person-centred treatment.

Methods
Qualitative one: one structured interviews were conducted (n=30), with professionals from primary care diabetic services, intellectual disability services and community support workers involved in the treatment of adults with intellectual disabilities with data analysed using thematic analysis; independent ethics approval was ontained to conduct the study.

Results
Professionals have limited education, knowledge and skills of the specific needs of this group and experience barriers in relation to communication, capacity and consent to treatment, making reasonable adjustments to meet care needs, managing the diabetes and lack practice networks with other professionals involved in care. Specialist Intellectual Disability services lack knowledge about diabetes and the risks and complications. Specialist services have strategies that can assist patients and diabetes professionals with the management of patients with intellectual disabilities and type 2 diabetes, with scope for joint working. There is an opportunity to develop the role of community support workers in supporting people with intellectual disabilities access diabetic care and they need further education and support.

Discussion
Professionals need shared education opportunities about the type 2 diabetes and the needs of people intellectual disabilities to improve practice and provide better support. There are examples of collaborative working across services that can be shared and disseminated and the need to develop joint working in the future as it is anticipated there will be more people with intellectual disabilities with type 2 diabetes.

Conclusions
Further education and collaborative working is required in the future to meet the needs of this growing population.