An Analysis of Diabetes Distress Among Type-2 Diabetics

Diabetes Mellitus(DM) is a metabolic disorder of multiple aetiology characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both (WHO,1999). Type 2 DM begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to respond to insulin properly. As the disease progresses a lack of insulin may also develop. This form was previously referred to as "non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (NIDDM). Distress is a term which describes a range of symptoms and experiences of an inner life of a person which leads to troubles, confusions and abnormalities. Diabetes is a demanding disease with a major effect on the quality of life of patients and their families. Diabetes Distress (DD) refers to the unique, often hidden emotional burdens and worries that are part of the spectrum of patient experience when managing a severe, demanding chronic disease like diabetes. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between DD and type 2 diabetics in relation to exercise and gender. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample of 140 type 2 diabetics equally divided gender wise and as per the exercise they do. The sample was selected from various hospitals of Ahmedabad city aged between 30-70 years. Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS) was administered to the patients. The results were statistically analysed using two-way analysis of variance (anova). The findings revealed that DD was found to be more in diabetics who didn't exercise than those who did regular exercise. Type 2 diabetics had higher score on DD than male diabetics.