Supporting professionals to talk about remission with people with type 2 diabetes: using multi-methods to develop a communication guidance resource

Objective: People living with type two diabetes can achieve remission through weight loss, and services are available to support this. Our aim was to develop an evidence-informed resource supporting professionals to communicate about remission with diverse people with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We followed a multi-method, four phase approach: (1) evidence review, identifying empirically based communication practices (2) patient and professional interviews, understanding priorities that could facilitate positive conversations about remission (3) triangulation and resource creation, and (4) resource review, including testing with our multidisciplinary team and remission coaches, and final iteration. People with lived experience were involved throughout and we included participants from diverse backgrounds to support relevance and acceptability.

Results: The evidence review found framing advice positively and delicately, maximising patient involvement, methods motivating referral uptake were effective. Interviews found staff and patients valued: asking rather than telling, gently introducing remission, understanding an individual's perceptions of success. Triangulating patient and professional responses revealed results were largely complementary, foregrounding what and how discussions about remission could transpire. The multidisciplinary team provided additional information for inclusion. Training was delivered in 2023–2024 to diabetes remission service providers and was integrated into Diabetes UK resources.

Conclusions: Grounded in communication evidence, this resource supports professionals to discuss remission with diverse people with type 2 diabetes. As diabetes remission services expand, this resource needs testing to determine its impact on patient engagement in remission services. Innovation: A multi-method approach informed the development of a communication resource to support effective, inclusive conversations about diabetes remission.