Depression, quality of life, and glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to evaluate the contributions of diabetic complications to depression beyond the contributions of demographic characteristics in patients with type 2 diabetes. Further, this article evaluates the contributions of diabetic complications, depression, and quality of life to A1C (also know as HbA1c) beyond the contributions of demographic characteristics in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Data sources: A cross-sectional survey of 55 individuals with type 2 diabetes attending an inner city diabetes specialty clinic. Patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory - II, the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report, the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36, and a demographic questionnaire. A1C and diabetes-related comorbidities were obtained from the patients' medical records. Conclusions: Being younger and female were associated with depression in individuals with type 2 diabetes. After controlling for age and gender, neuropathy tended to add to the prediction of depression; other comorbidities did not. Being black was associated with poor diabetic control (A1C > 7). After controlling for race, neuropathy and retinopathy predicted poor diabetes control and depression tended to predict poor diabetes control. Implications for practice: Given the high prevalence of depression, the relationship of depression with poor diabetic self-care and medication adherence, and the increased cost of treatment for patients with depression among individuals with type 2 diabetes, assessment of depression is crucial. Further research is needed to establish effective treatment of depression and its effect on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.