Cardiovascular disease, difficulty healing, nerve damage, eye problems… Diabetes can cause many complications. But this chronic illness does not only have consequences on the body, it also impacts mental health.
A Roche Diabetes Care France study conducted by OpinionWay on a sample of 500 type 1 and 2 diabetics (T1D and T2D) reveals that this pathology greatly affects their well-being and mental health.
Mental health and diabetes: women are more affected
More than 9 out of 10 respondents with diabetes admitted to having encountered at least one well-being problem: eating disorders, depression, stress, etc. For example, more than a third of them admitted to having difficulty sleeping and feeling stress or even anxiety several times a month. Diabetic women see their mental health more affected than men. Indeed, the survey showed that 30% of them feel (often or very often) depressed compared to only 14% of men. 40% of patients feel anxious and 54% suffer from sleep disorders. The rates are respectively 25% and 34% among the male population surveyed.
However, despite these difficulties, only 19% (22% of T1D and 18% of T2D) call on a professional specializing in mental health (psychiatrist or psychologist).
“These figures illustrate that the impact of diabetes on mental health is still underestimated, despite the many studies on the subject. It is all the more important to be vigilant as depression risks worsening the prognosis of the disease. Warning signs such as sleep disorders, eating disorders, loss of desire, stress, panic attacks or difficulty following treatment may indicate a need for help on the part of the patient. Local health professionals, particularly pharmacists and general practitioners, must be attentive to these signals, and offer patients appropriate support when they are detected.”explains Marie de Bonnières, clinical psychologist and author of the book Living Better with a Chronic Illness, in the press release detailing the results of the survey.
Type 1 diabetes: the burden of the disease seems heavier
Patients with type 1 diabetes appear to be more at risk of mental health problems than others. In fact, 42% of T1D people often or very often feel anxious. Which represents 11 points more than DT2.
“Type 1 diabetes seems to have a particularly significant psychological impact, especially because these patients are subject to injectable treatment. The constraints linked to the disease and the treatment affect the quality of life and daily life in all its aspects, from social to emotional to professional. Accepting a chronic disease and living with its daily constraints is a long and sometimes difficult process. The support of relatives, caregivers, peers or associations as well as appropriate psychological monitoring are essential to help patients in the long term.”concludes the expert.
