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

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. 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. 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. 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.