Cited by 156Diabetes Management and EducationDiabetes Management and ResearchDiabetes Treatment and Management

Diabetes distress is linked with worsening diabetes management over time in adults with type 1 diabetes

Open access
Hessler, D. M., Fisher, L., Polonsky, W. H., Masharani, U., Strycker, L. A., Peters, A. L., Blumer, I., Bowyer, V.·2017·Diabetic Medicine

Abstract

Abstract Aim To determine the cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations between diabetes distress and diabetes management. Methods In a non‐interventional study, 224 adults with Type 1 diabetes were assessed for diabetes distress, missed insulin boluses, hypoglycaemic episodes, and HbA1c at baseline and 9 months. Results At baseline, greater distress was associated with higher HbA1c and a greater percentage of missed insulin boluses. Longitudinally, elevated baseline distress was related to increased missed insulin boluses, and decreases in distress were associated with decreases in HbA1c. In supplementary analyses, neither depression symptoms nor a diagnosis of major depressive disorder was associated with missed insulin boluses, HbA1c or hypoglycaemic episodes in cross‐sectional or longitudinal analyses. Conclusions Significant cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations were found between diabetes distress and management; in contrast, no parallel associations were found for major depressive disorder or depression symptoms. Findings suggest that elevated distress may lead to more missed insulin boluses over time, suggesting a potential intervention target. The covarying association between distress and HbA1c points to the complex and likely interactive associations between these constructs. Findings highlight the need to address distress as an integral part of diabetes management in routine care.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1111/dme.13381

Cites

24 of 24 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 10 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    In adults with Type 1 diabetes, higher baseline diabetes distress predicts an increase in the percentage of missed insulin boluses over 9 months, controlling for baseline missed boluses.

    “Longitudinally, elevated baseline distress was related to increased missed insulin boluses”
    • Also stated in: § Prospective analyses · plain
      “baseline diabetes distress significantly predicted change in percent of missed boluses (β = 0.05, P = 0.006) over time”
    • Also stated in: § Conclusion · hedged
      “individuals with elevated baseline distress are more likely to miss more insulin boluses at 9-month follow-up, even after controlling for baseline levels of missed insulin boluses.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Missing data are missing completely at random and listwise deletion does not bias the results.
    • Rests on an assumption: Self-reported missed insulin boluses and hypoglycaemic episodes accurately reflect actual diabetes management behaviours.
  • Findingown data

    In adults with Type 1 diabetes, baseline diabetes distress does not predict change in HbA1c over 9 months.

    “Baseline distress was not predictive of change in HbA1c or number of hypoglycaemic episodes over time.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Missing data are missing completely at random and listwise deletion does not bias the results.
  • Findingown data

    In adults with Type 1 diabetes, decreases in diabetes distress over 9 months are associated with decreases in HbA1c.

    “decreases in distress were associated with decreases in HbA1c”
    • Also stated in: § Time-varying analyses · plain
      “Reductions in diabetes distress over the 9 months were significantly related to improvement in HbA1c (β = 0.34, P < 0.01).”
    • Also stated in: § Conclusion · plain
      “increases in distress are significantly associated with increases in HbA1c and vice versa.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Missing data are missing completely at random and listwise deletion does not bias the results.
  • Findingown data

    In adults with Type 1 diabetes, higher diabetes distress is cross-sectionally associated with a greater percentage of missed insulin boluses at baseline.

    “At baseline, greater distress was associated with higher HbA1c and a greater percentage of missed insulin boluses.”
    • Also stated in: § Baseline cross-sectional analyses · plain
      “percent of missed insulin boluses (β = 0.04, P = 0.02)”
    • Also stated in: § Conclusion · plain
      “elevated distress associated with higher HbA1c and a greater percentage of missed insulin boluses.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Missing data are missing completely at random and listwise deletion does not bias the results.
    • Rests on an assumption: Self-reported missed insulin boluses and hypoglycaemic episodes accurately reflect actual diabetes management behaviours.
  • Findingown data

    In adults with Type 1 diabetes, baseline levels of diabetes management variables (missed insulin boluses, HbA1c, and hypoglycaemic episodes) do not predict change in diabetes distress over 9 months.

    “models that tested baseline levels of management variables (i.e. missed insulin boluses, HbA1c and number of hypoglycaemic episodes) as predictors of change in distress failed to reach significance.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Missing data are missing completely at random and listwise deletion does not bias the results.
    • Rests on an assumption: Self-reported missed insulin boluses and hypoglycaemic episodes accurately reflect actual diabetes management behaviours.
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 11
  • May combine two claims. 8
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    Multiple comparisons were adjusted using the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure with a false discovery rate of 0.05.

    “we adjusted for multiple comparisons using the Benjamini–Hochberg procedure [18] utilizing a false discovery rate of 0.05; adjusted significance values are reported in addition to unadjusted values.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [18] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Several prior studies have found significant bidirectional associations between diabetes distress and glycaemic control over time.

    “In a second pattern of findings, several studies have pointed to significant bidirectional associations among diabetes distress and glycaemic control over time.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The study could have been strengthened by a more comprehensive and less subjective measurement of missed insulin boluses and low blood sugars.

    “First, the study could have been strengthened by a comprehensive and less-subjective measurement of missed insulin boluses and low blood sugars.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In a study by Weinger and Jacobson, baseline distress did not predict change in HbA1c, but change in distress was associated with change in HbA1c over 5 months.

    “a notable exception is a study by Weinger and Jacobson [13], who found that baseline distress did not predict change in HbA1c, but that change in distress was associated with change in HbA1c over the 5-month study.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [13] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The study sample was relatively well-educated and had high rates of healthcare accessibility and computer access.

    “Second, the study sample was relatively well-educated individuals having a high rate of healthcare accessibility and computer access.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Changes in missed insulin boluses do not explain the association between diabetes distress and HbA1c, suggesting multiple mechanisms.

    “changes in missed insulin boluses did not explain the association between diabetes distress and HbA1c, supporting the view that there are likely multiple mechanisms at work that may differ for subgroups of participants [2].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [2] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Those prior studies did not find that baseline distress predicted changes in management outcomes over time or management at follow-up after controlling for baseline levels.

    “However, neither of these studies found prospective associations where baseline distress predicted changes in management outcomes over time, or predicted management at follow-up after controlling for baseline levels.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [10] source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [11] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The study design only allowed SCID diagnostic interview assessment at baseline, not time-varying models to assess MDD.

    “Third, the study design only allowed for SCID diagnostic interview assessment at baseline, thus not allowing for time-varying models to assess MDD.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In adults with Type 2 diabetes, decreases in diabetes distress were bidirectionally associated with decreases in HbA1c, without support for one construct exclusively influencing the other.

    “In both observational and intervention contexts with adults with Type 2 diabetes, we found that decreases in distress were bidirectionally associated with decreases in HbA1c, without support for one construct exclusively influencing the other [2,12].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [2] source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [12] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The study was limited to two assessments over 9 months, which did not permit a more comprehensive analysis of long-term change.

    “Fourth, the study was limited to two assessments over 9 months, which did not permit a more comprehensive analysis of long-term change.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Of the baseline participants, 73% (n = 224) completed the 9-month assessment.

    “Of 348 eligible U.S. participants identified, 305 completed the baseline survey (88%); 73% (n = 224) of whom completed the 9-month assessment.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The sample size was determined by the aims of the larger study and allowed for detecting moderate effects (d = 0.35) at 0.80 or greater power (two-sided α = 0.05).

    “The sample size was determined by the aims of the larger study [15] and allowed for detecting moderate effects (e.g. d = 0.35) at 0.80 or greater power (two-sided α = 0.05).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [15] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Premisereasoning

    Relatively little prior work has examined the association between diabetes distress and diabetes management over time.

    “Relatively little work has examined the association between diabetes distress and diabetes management over time.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Three SCID interviewers were trained until acceptable inter-rater reliability was reached, and all three rated every tenth interview to monitor reliability, with all Kappa values ≥ 0.90.

    “Three interviewers were trained by a master SCID trainer until acceptable inter-rater reliability was reached. All three interviewers then rated every tenth interview to monitor ongoing reliability and to prevent inter-rater drift over time (all Kappa values ≥ 0.90).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
14 of 14
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Missing data are missing completely at random and listwise deletion does not bias the results.

    “Missing data were not imputed, and cases were excluded list wise.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Self-reported missed insulin boluses and hypoglycaemic episodes accurately reflect actual diabetes management behaviours.

    “Numbers of hypoglycaemic episodes (defined as blood glucose < 70 mg/dl) in the past 7 days were self-reported. The per cent of missed insulin boluses was calculated from self-reported total number of boluses and boluses skipped during the past 2 weeks.”
2 of 2

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Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Conclusion reverses the direction of missed-bolus change

    Minor

    The conclusion describes high baseline distress as leading to fewer missed boluses, whereas the prospective results say it predicts more missed boluses over time.

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Authors
Hessler, D. M., Fisher, L., Polonsky, W. H., Masharani, U., Strycker, L. A., Peters, A. L., Blumer, I., & Bowyer, V.
Affiliations
  • Department of Family &amp; Community Medicine San Francisco USA
  • Behavioral Diabetes Institute San Francisco USA
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
  • Oregon Research Institute (US)
  • University of Southern California (US)
  • Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre Ontario Canada
Corresponding author
Hessler, D. M.
Venue
Diabetic Medicine
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-06-18
Volume
34
Issue
9
Pages
1228-1234
ISSN
  • 0742-3071 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-5491
OpenAlex
W2612875258
Cited by
155
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 2 · 2014: 1
FWCI
8.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Diabetic Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (DK094863)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Education
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Treatment and Management
Keywords
diabetes distress, type 1 diabetes, diabetes self-management, hypoglycemia, HbA1c, glycemic control, major depressive disorder, depressive symptoms, longitudinal change
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Blood Glucose, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Female, Glycated Hemoglobin, Humans, Hypoglycemia, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Stress, Psychological, Time Factors, Disease Progression, Diabetes Complications, Young Adult

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