Prevalence and Predictors of Diabetes Distress among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of diabetes distress and its associated predictors among type 2 diabetic patients in Southern Punjab, Pakistan.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Endocrine Department, Nishtar Medical University and Hospital Multan from September 1^st, 2020 to November 30^th, 2020.

Materials and Methods: A sample of 152 patients from both genders were selected through non-probability convenient sampling. Only those patients whose age was above 20 years, had type 2 diabetes from the last one year and were visiting for their checkups in the endocrine department. Urdu version of Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS-17) was used to measure the diabetes distress. To see whether there was any association between the variables, both Chi-square and Pearson’s correlation coefficient tests and Multiple linear regression was used to find the predictors of diabetes distress.

Results: Out of 152 participants, the majority were males, married, uneducated, unemployed, obese, hypertensive, physically inactive, and had poor glycated hemoglobin level. Among them, 66.4% participants had high diabetes distress. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the participants’ age (β = .01, p < .05), level of education (β = .24, p < .05) and glycemic level (β = .12, p < .05) were strong predictors of diabetes distress among the participants.

Conclusion: Diabetes distress is very common among type 2 diabetes patients, and age, level of education and HbA1c were strong predictor of diabetes distress among type 2 diabetes patients in the study.