The association of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with perceived quality of life in a biethnic population: the San Luis Valley Diabetes Study

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 88; no. 8; pp. 1225 - 1229
• Main Authors: Caldwell, E M, Baxter, J, Mitchell, C M, Shetterly, S M, Hamman, R F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Am Public Health Assoc 01-08-1998; American Public Health Association
• Subjects: Acculturation; Adaptation, Psychological; Adjustment; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular disease; Chronic illnesses; Colorado; Comparative studies; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - ethnology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - psychology; Ethnicity; European Continental Ancestry Group - psychology; Female; Glucose; Heart; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic Americans - psychology; Hispanic people; Humans; Insulin; Male; Medical sciences; Mental health; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Missing data; Mixed ethnicity; Perceptions; Personality Inventory; Population; Public health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Quality of Life; Relationship; Sick Role; Social Adjustment; Social networks; Social research; Socioeconomic factors; Variables; United States; North America; America; Endocrinopathy; Human; Evaluation; Social perception; Self perception; Spanish; Caucasoid; Non insulin dependent diabetes; Ethnic group; Public health; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.88.8.1225

This study evaluated the association between quality of life and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) status, and whether this association differs between Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites.
Between 1986 and 1989, cross-sectional data on perceived quality of life (PQOL) were collected from 223 persons with NIDDM and 753 non-diabetic subjects.
After adjustment, persons with NIDDM rated their PQOL significantly lower than did control subjects. The relationship of diabetes and PQOL did not differ by ethnicity. The number of complications of diabetes was not associated with lower PQOL scores.
Control and treatment strategies should reflect an understanding of the impact that diabetes has on social functioning, leisure activities, and physical and mental health.