Mental Health Problems Linked to Diabetes
Mental Health Problems Linked to Diabetes
What is the problem and what is known about it so far?
Blindness is a common complication of type 2 diabetes that can cause problems with a person’s daily activities. Some studies suggest that people with diabetes have other problems as well, such as depression and adjusting to the changes that diabetes causes.
Why did the researchers do this particular study?
The researchers wanted to study how well people with diabetes and vision loss cope with daily living, and how they compare with people who don’t have diabetes.
Who was studied?
The study included 51 people with diabetes and 73 people without diabetes. All participants had vision loss.
How was the study done?
Participants completed a detailed survey and were interviewed by researchers. They were followed up for 12 months.
What did the researchers find?
People with vision loss have a hard time coping with daily activities, whether or not they have diabetes. People with diabetes tend to have more problems, but a year later many of the problems had been resolved. However, people who were recently diagnosed with diabetes or vision loss were more likely to report anxiety and depression.
What were the limitations of the study?
The number of participants was small. The participants were volunteers, so people with more serious problems may have been missed. Therefore, the study’s results may not be accurate.
What are the implications of the study?
Psychological problems and difficulties with daily activities are common in people with diabetes and vision loss. These people should have psychological assessments to help reduce the problems caused by diabetes.
