Prevalence and determinants of diabetes-related psychological distress in a tertiary care setting in Tamil Nadu, India: cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Diabetes distress, whereby people with diabetes experience distressing psychological symptoms associated with living with their condition, is an emerging problem in India. Diabetes distress leads to self-care deficits, suboptimal glycaemic control (which can lead to increasing risks of complications) and impaired quality of life. AIMS: To determine the burden of diabetes distress and its associated factors in an Indian tertiary care centre in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India, covering a population of 1.25 million. METHOD: < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the need for routine psychological screening and holistic management strategies in diabetes care, to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.