Diabetes Distress and Illness Perceptions in Tunisian Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Abstract

Diabetes distress (DD) refers to the negative emotions and burden of living with diabetes. Illness perceptions are among the factors that can influence self-management and psychological distress in diabetics. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the associated factors of DD in Tunisian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We also studied the relationship between DD and illness perceptions in diabetics. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among individuals with type 2 diabetes, followed up at the outpatient endocrinology unit at the Hedi Chaker University Hospital, Tunisia. DD was assessed using the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS-17). The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief-IPQ) was used to assess diabetes illness perceptions. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine independent factors associated with the presence of DD. Results: A total of 103 patients were recruited. The mean age was 59.31 (±10.83) years; 54.4% were female. In total, 70.9% had DD. Using regression analysis, we demonstrated that the illness perceptions of personal control, HbA1C, absence of comorbidities, lower age at diabetes diagnosis, and socioeconomic status were significantly associated with DD. Conclusion:This study sheds light on the high prevalence of DD among patients with type 2 diabetes in Tunisia. Illness perceptionfocused psychological intervention would be efficacious in reducing diabetes distress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes Distress and Illness Perceptions in Tunisian Type 2 Diabetes Patients [Letter]

“…The article with the title “Diabetes Distress and Illness Perceptions in Tunisian Type 2 Diabetes Patients” attracted our attention because it produces a nomogram prediction model for diabetes distress (DD) and illness perceptions in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients which can be used to predict weaknesses in self-management and psychological distress. 1 This nomogram involves four factors (economic income, age at diagnosis, comorbid illness, and HbA1C status) which were obtained from the result of analysis. In the initial stage of analysis there were six significant risk factors for DD and illness perception, but in the final stage there were only four significant factors.…”