Diabetes distress among type 2 diabetic patients

Background: Diabetes mellitus is being increasingly recognized as a serious global health problem and is frequently associated with co-morbid distress, contributing double burden for the individual and the society. Aim: This study documents the proportion of diabetes distress and factors associated with it. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2012. Data were collected through interview and record review of 165 adults with type 2 diabetes. Results: The proportion of diabetes distress among the study population was 48.5%, which includes 22.4% high distress and 26.1% moderate distress. The remainder had little or no distress. The Mean ± SD of total diabetes distress score was2.17 ± 0.75. The Mean ± SD for each domain score such as emotional burden, physician-related distress, regimen-related distress and interpersonal distress was (3.49 ± 1.52), (1.13 ± 0.32), (2.12 ± 0.85), (1.40± 0.65) respectively. Emotional burden was considered as the most important domain in measuring diabetes distress. The influence of age (p<0.001), occupation (p<0.05), smoking (p<0.005), BMI (p<0.001), duration since detection of diabetes mellitus (p<0.001), glycaemic status (p<0.001) treatment modalities (P<0.001), diabetic complications (p<0.001) on level of diabetes distress was statistically significant. There was a strong, positive correlation between the two variables (r=0.64, p<0.001); diabetes distress score with duration of diabetes mellitus. There was a medium, positive correlation between the two variables [r=0.43, p<0.001]; diabetes distress score with glycaemic status (HbA1c level) .Conclusion: This study identified diabetes distress as a significant health problem among adult type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. This should be taken into consideration for effective management of patient.