Impact of Patients’ Education upon Reducing Psychological Distress during Diabetic Journey

Abstract Background and Objectives: Diabetes distress (DD), an emotional burden that does not meet the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, has gained attention in the diabetes literature. It was to evaluate the impact of diabetes education among psychological distress in type 2 diabetes patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 1, 2024, and March 1, 2025, at the Endocrine and diabetes center in Baghdad City, Iraq, targeting persons aged 30 and older with diabetes who had engaged in-person clinics. Data were collected through structured phone interviews, supplemented by laboratory results from clinical records. The survey included demographic details, diabetes information, and the Psychological Distress Scale. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, were performed to explore the relationships between DD, sociodemographics variables, and Pearson’s correlation. Results: The results showed a significant psychological distress among diabetic patients and also indicate a relationship between psychological distress and type II diabetes. Conclusions: Diabetic patients suffer from various psychological stressors, most notably anxiety about diabetes and future complications. There is a direct relationship between the duration of diabetes and the level of psychological distress, meaning that patients with diabetes for a long time are more likely to experience psychological distress. We recommended providing psychological support programs for diabetes patients and offering psychological counseling sessions to help them cope with anxiety and depression associated with the disease.