The emotional burden of type 1 diabetes: A cross-sectional study to understand associations between diabetes distress and glucose metrics in adulthood

Aims

Advancements in type 1 diabetes (T1D) management, such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), have helped people achieve narrower glucose ranges, but associations between CGM and diabetes distress are unclear. Although higher HbA_1c is associated with higher distress, associations with other glucose metrics are unknown. To better understand this relationship, we characterized diabetes distress in a sample of CGM users and compared differences in glucose metrics (measured via CGM) between those with higher versus lower distress.

Methods

CGM users with T1D from the T1D Exchange Registry completed an online survey including diabetes distress (DDS-2) and shared CGM data (N = 199). CGM metrics were computed from all available data within 3 months prior to survey completion. Participants were grouped by distress level: lower (DDS-2 < 3, n = 120) or higher (DDS-2 ≥ 3, n = 79). Welch's t-tests were used to compare mean differences in CGM metrics between groups and MANCOVA was used to further probe mean differences.

Results

Approximately 39.7% participants reported higher diabetes distress. Welch's t-tests revealed participants with higher distress spent significantly more time in higher glucose ranges (above 180 mg/dL and above 250 mg/dL), less time in target glucose ranges (between 70 and 180 mg/dL and between 70 and 140 mg/dL) and had higher glucose management index values compared to those with lower distress (p < 0.01). MANCOVA models showed similar results.

Conclusions

CGM users continue to experience diabetes distress. Moreover, higher distress appears to be associated with hyperglycaemia. These findings provide support for broader screening efforts for diabetes distress.