The Importance of Addressing Depression and Diabetes Distress in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

• Published in: Journal of general internal medicine : JGIM Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 320 - 324
• Main Authors: Owens-Gary, Michelle D., Zhang, Xuanping, Jawanda, Shawn, Bullard, Kai McKeever, Allweiss, Pamela, Smith, Bryce D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-02-2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adults; Complications; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Disease control; Disease management; Health care; Health risks; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Perspective; Quality of life; Risk management; primary care; depression; diabetes; providers; diabetes distress
• ISSN: 0884-8734; 1525-1497
• DOI: 10.1007/s11606-018-4705-2

People with type 2 diabetes often experience two common mental health conditions: depression and diabetes distress. Both increase a patient’s risk for mortality, poor disease management, diabetes-related complications, and poor quality of life. The American Diabetes Association and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend routine evaluations for these conditions in adults for optimal disease management and prevention of life-threatening complications. However, barriers exist within primary care and specialty settings that make screening for depression and diabetes distress challenging. Depression and diabetes distress influence diabetes self-care and diabetes control and barriers in clinical care practice that can hinder detection and management of psychosocial issues in diabetes care. This paper highlights opportunities to increase mental health screenings and provides strategies to help providers address depression and diabetes distress in patients with type 2 diabetes.