Defining the Relationship of Psychological Well-Being and Diabetes Distress with Glycemic Control among Malaysian Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic and progressive disease that has reached the epidemic level around the world. In Malaysia, according to the third National Health and Morbidity Survey (2006), the prevalence of diabetes has increased to 14.9% from 8.3% in 1996. Co-morbid psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, and stress have been shown to be high among type 2 diabetic patients in Malaysia and they were also associated with the level of glycemia. The present study sought to examine the relationships of diabetes distress and psychological well-being to glycemic control among adults with type 2 diabetes. A total of 60 adults with type 2 diabetes participated in the study and were given the diabetes distress scale (DDS-17) and well-being questionnaire (W-BQ 22) to measure their level of distress and psychological well-being using Pearson correlation test. The most recent data on glycemic control (or blood glucose level, HbA1c) were obtained from the participants’medical records, (with poor glycemic control defined by HbA1c>7.5%). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 19) used to analyze the data obtained from questionnaires. Pearson correlation results indicated significant positive relationship between blood glucose level and variables of diabetes distress (r=0.27, P=0.03) and psychological well-being (r=0.53, P=0.00). There were no significant relationships between blood glucose level and diabetes distress dimensions (emotional burden, physician-related distress, regimen-related distress, and internal distress). However, there were significant relationships between blood glucose level and variables of depression (r=-0.27, P=0.03) and anxiety (r=-0.41, P=0.00), both of which are dimensions of psychological well-being. The study results have shown that diabetes distress and psychological wellbeing are associated with glycemic control and while it is not always possible to avoid stress, learning to recognize and cope with stressors may help individuals with diabetes maintain good glycemic control and improve general well-being. These results are consistent with the results of past studies in Malaysia.abuse.