Diabetes-related distress among type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients in Saudi Arabia.
Studies have shown that diabetes negatively affects mental health, and that depression is twice as common among individuals with diabetes.
To evaluate diabetes-related distress and its association with complications, treatment adherence and clinical outcomes in Saudi Arabia.
This cross-sectional study collected data from 269 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus at a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, using the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS). The data were analysed using SPSS version 25.
Overall, 12.3% of the participants reported diabetes-related high distress (DDS-17 score > 3), 38.7% moderate distress (> 2) and 49.0% little or no distress. The most reported type of distress was regimen-related distress (22.7%), followed by emotional burden (15.6%), physician-related distress (14.9%), and interpersonal distress (10.4%). Treatment adherence was significantly associated with lower distress levels across all domains (P < 0.05). Higher diabetes-related distress scores correlated with elevated haemoglobin A1c levels and diabetes-related complications. Females had significantly more neurologic and more visual complications than males (P < 0.001).
Our findings show that diabetes-related distress, particularly regimen-related and physician-related distresses, has significant effects on clinical outcomes for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. There is therefore a need for physicians to integrate diabetes-related distress assessment and management into routine diabetes care, including providing guidance on daily disease management and lifestyle changes as preventive measures for diabetesrelated distress.
To evaluate diabetes-related distress and its association with complications, treatment adherence and clinical outcomes in Saudi Arabia.
This cross-sectional study collected data from 269 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus at a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, using the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS). The data were analysed using SPSS version 25.
Overall, 12.3% of the participants reported diabetes-related high distress (DDS-17 score > 3), 38.7% moderate distress (> 2) and 49.0% little or no distress. The most reported type of distress was regimen-related distress (22.7%), followed by emotional burden (15.6%), physician-related distress (14.9%), and interpersonal distress (10.4%). Treatment adherence was significantly associated with lower distress levels across all domains (P < 0.05). Higher diabetes-related distress scores correlated with elevated haemoglobin A1c levels and diabetes-related complications. Females had significantly more neurologic and more visual complications than males (P < 0.001).
Our findings show that diabetes-related distress, particularly regimen-related and physician-related distresses, has significant effects on clinical outcomes for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. There is therefore a need for physicians to integrate diabetes-related distress assessment and management into routine diabetes care, including providing guidance on daily disease management and lifestyle changes as preventive measures for diabetesrelated distress.
Authors
Soliman Soliman, Naguib Naguib, Neimatallah Neimatallah, AlKhudhairy AlKhudhairy, AlGhamdi AlGhamdi, Alqahtani Alqahtani, Aldashash Aldashash, Alkhalifah Alkhalifah, Alhakami Alhakami
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