Impact of a type 2 diabetes diagnosis on mental health, quality of life, and social contacts: a longitudinal study

Abstract

AimsThe aim was to examine whether a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) diagnosis increases the odds of psychological distress, a worsening in overall quality of life, and a potential reduction in social contacts.MethodLongitudinal data were obtained from the 45 and Up Study (baseline 2006–2008; 3.4±0.95 years follow-up time). Fixed effects logistic and negative binomial regression models were fitted on a complete case on outcome sample that did not report T2DM at baseline (N=26 344), adjusted for time-varying confounders. The key exposure was doctor-diagnosed T2DM at follow-up. Outcome variables examined included the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, self-rated quality of life, and four indicators of social contacts.ResultsA modest increase in the odds of psychological distress associated with T2DM diagnosis (OR=1.30) was not statistically significant (95% CI 0.75 to 2.25). A T2DM diagnosis was associated with a fivefold increase in the odds of a participant reporting that their quality of life had become significantly poorer (OR 5.49, 95% CI 1.26 to 23.88). T2DM diagnosis was also associated with a reduction in times spent with friends and family (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.95), contacts by telephone (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.02), attendance at social clubs or religious groups (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.91), and the number of people nearby but outside the home that participants felt they could rely on (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.98).ConclusionsA T2DM diagnosis can have important impacts on quality of life and on social contacts, which may have negative impacts on mental health and T2DM management in the longer term.

Quality of Life among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…[5] A longitudinal study also reported similar findings where reduction in times spent with friends and family, contacts by telephone and attendance at social clubs or religious groups. [6] The present study showed overall QOL average in 59% and good in 41% of the subjects. A longitudinal study also reported fivefold increase in the odds of a subject reporting quality of life had become significantly poorer.…”

“…A longitudinal study also reported fivefold increase in the odds of a subject reporting quality of life had become significantly poorer. [6] A study conducted in Patna also reported average QOL in 56.5% and good only in 32.9% of diabetic cases. [4] Similar findings were reported in another study where 25% reported good quality of life whereas 48% rated their quality of life as poor .…”

The association of self‐reported diabetes with impaired social functioning in low‐, middle‐ and high‐income countries: findings from the World Health Survey

“…Epidemiological evidence from high‐income countries has documented that diabetes is associated with impaired social functioning . The current cross‐national comparative study expanded this observation to include low‐ and middle‐income countries.…”

Body mass index trajectories preceding first report of poor self-rated health: a longitudinal case-control analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing:

“…Obesity is linked to the development of many chronic diseases that have a major effect on general health, such as diabetes. 21 After restricting our analysis to individuals without diabetes, middle-aged, but not elderly, cases and controls had more similar BMI trajectories preceding poor self-rated health. Indeed, these results indicate that development of diabetes may partly explain the difference observed between middle-aged cases and controls.…”