Impact of Problem Solving Therapy on Quality of Life of Emotionally Distressed Diabetic Type 2 Patients

Abstract

Diabetes-specific distress (DSD) the emotional burden, regimen-related strain, and fears about complications experienced by adults with Type 2 diabetes, comes from normal diabetes self-care practices, not from clinical depression. There is a correlation between DSD and poor glycemic control, lack of adherence and lower quality of life. This review seeks to explore randomized controlled trials of psychological interventions, conceptualized from an Islamic perspective of character mastery to decrease distress and enhance psychosocial outcomes in individuals with T2DM. Adjustments to interventions to highlight Islamic teachings should incorporate spiritual practices and moral development with typical therapeutic practices. Core components of Problem-Solving Therapy (PST) problem identification, solution generation, plan implementation and plan review – are introduced and principles of self-purification and ethical discipline patient persistence are introduced. Adjustments to interventions to focus on Character mastery teachings include the incorporation of spiritual practices and moral development into the usual therapeutic interventions. Problem-Solving Therapy (PST) is introduced, including the identification of problems, generation of solutions, implementation and review of plans, and principles of self-purification and ethical discipline: patience during setbacks, trust in God while taking responsible action, prayer and remembrance for emotional regulation, and communal and family support based on Islamic social ethics. This approach places behavioral homework and skills rehearsal in the context of character development, and promotes health goals as expressions of stewardship and moral responsibility. Culturally and spiritually adapted programs have been shown to reduce diabetes distress and improve coping in the short-term in trials. Problem-solving ability (PSTQ) increased from pre-test (M = 2.00) to post-test (M = 2.51), indicating enhanced practical coping and self-regulatory skills. The greatest effect observed was on glycemic control, with categorical HbA1c scores decreasing from pre-test (M = 3.46) to post-test (M = 2.73), indicating that spiritually integrated psychosocial care can have a meaningful metabolic effect. The results suggest the importance of interventions that foster both practical problem-solving and moral/character capacities. In practice, integrating character-focused Islamic content into diabetes care can enhance engagement and sustain behavior change. Examples include framing self-care as an act of worship and stewardship, using Quranic reflections and stories of prophetic patience to model endurance, involving mosque or family networks for accountability and social support, and promoting daily spiritual practices that also serve emotional regulation. By linking skill-building with habitual refinement of intention, discipline, and moral conduct clinicians can support patients in achieving both psychological wellbeing and better glycemic outcomes