Diabetes Distress in People Living with Diabetes and Advanced Kidney Disease: A Scoping Review

Diabetes distress refers to the emotional burden and challenges associated with living with and managing diabetes. People with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), including those receiving dialysis, often face complex treatment demands, multiple comorbidities, and significant disruption to daily life, which may increase vulnerability to diabetes distress. Despite growing recognition of the importance of psychological wellbeing in diabetes care, the extent and nature of diabetes distress in advanced kidney disease populations remain unclear. This scoping review will map the existing evidence on diabetes distress among people living with diabetes and advanced kidney disease. It will examine how diabetes distress is defined and measured, estimate reported prevalence, identify associated clinical and psychosocial factors, and summarise interventions aimed at reducing distress. The findings will help clarify the current evidence base and inform future research to support psychological wellbeing in this high-burden population.