Factors associated with diabetes distress in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

One of the most common metabolic diseases in the world is diabetes. Healthcare services in Taiwan place a strong emphasis on self-care interventions and self-management techniques. This study intends to investigate the association of related factors with diabetes distress in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as there is a dearth of information on the topic. Targeting T2DM patients from the internal medicine outpatient clinic of a regional hospital in Taiwan, this study used a cross-sectional survey. Between May 1 and July 31, 2023, purposive sampling was used to recruit a total of 181 older patients. Three validated and previously published scales were used in study: Chinese Version of the Problem Areas in Diabetes, Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire, and Diabetes Self-Care Behaviors Scale. Regression analysis identified four key factors associated with diabetes distress: diabetes knowledge, diabetes self-care behaviors, diabetic neuropathy, and HbA1c. It suggest older T2DM patients with diabetic neuropathy, HbA1c > 7%, lower diabetes knowledge, and poor diabetes self-care behaviors are more likely to experience increased diabetes distress. Findings can help clinicians identify risk factors for diabetes distress and understand the mechanisms associated with it in older T2DM patients. It emphasizes how diabetes distress in older T2DM patients is associated with diabetes education, self-care practices, diabetic neuropathy, and HbA1c levels. Improving patient outcomes requires early distress screening and diabetes distress assessment integration into standard care. Reducing distress and promoting improved diabetes control can be achieved by improving healthcare providers’ capacity to recognize diabetes distress and offer tailored interventions.