Diabetes Distress: The Untold Hidden Struggle of Living with Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

In recent years, the global burden of diabetes distress has increased significantly, imposing mental health issues on patients and the healthcare system. Diabetes-related distress differs from depression as it originates from the mental and emotional burden that comes from the ongoing management of diabetes. Studies have revealed that one in four individuals with type 1 diabetes has increased levels of diabetes distress, and one in five people with type 2 diabetes experiences increased levels of diabetes distress. Patients with diabetes experience psychosocial and emotional problems in response to these lengthy therapies, including worry about complications, fear of hypoglycemia, fatigue regarding poorly controlled blood glucose, worthlessness, the need for support, and access to healthcare. Psychological factors such as diabetes-related emotional distress have been linked with lower compliance to diet, exercise, frequent blood glucose testing, and medication regimens. Patients with a higher level of diabetes-specific emotional distress have been shown to have a lower health-related quality of life. Despite the increased awareness and knowledge of diabetes-related distress, patients with diabetes are not routinely screened during clinic visits. Therefore, nurses must continually observe and assess a patient's physical and emotional response to treatment and identify patterns and trends suggestive of diabetes-related distress.