What do People with Diabetes Distress want from their Diabetes Care Providers: are there Gender Differences?

Abstract

Purpose: Analyze a survey of feelings and perspective on past diabetes education and care and compare with literature, highlighting continuing gaps in current care, especially noting gender differences. Results could provide insights to help improve diabetes care and reduce mental health burden. Methods: Thirty-two people with diabetes (63% female, 75% with type 2 diabetes, 65±8 years old) were anonymously surveyed, providing quantitative demographic data regarding participant characteristics and emotional distress and qualitative data on participant perceptions and experiences. Responses and results were reviewed in current clinical context. Results: Over 50% of participants experienced some distress: 25% had negative perceptions of their current diabetes care. Significantly more women expressed feelings of being overwhelmed by their diabetes. Information about complications motivated them most strongly. This effect was greater in men, with women more likely to experience associated diabetes distress. Qualitative responses provided an insight into the daily challenges faced by people with diabetes, especially women. Themes of blame, guilt and fear were common, with suggestions for improved care in a manner similar to recommendations in psychosocial literature. Conclusion: People with diabetes report experiencing negative attitudes from their diabetes care providers, contributing to diabetes distress, despite extensive literature recommending the opposite care practice. From the patient’s viewpoint, literature recommendations regarding supportive “person-centered” diabetes care and education need to be practiced at diagnosis, as well as during treatment. Perhaps further understanding of gender-specific diabetes educational approaches could also improve mental health outcomes, especially altering focus on complications as motivation in women.