Oral Presentation ESA-SRB-APEG-NZSE 2022

Adolescents with type 2 diabetes have poor emotional wellbeing and unmet needs in relation to their diabetes care (#70)

Dana Spajic 1 , Jacqueline Curran 2 , Jane Speight 3 4 , Mark Shah 2 , Maree Thus 5 , Alexia Pena 1 5
  1. The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  2. Endocrine and Diabetes Department, The Perth Children's Hospital (PCH), Nedlands, WA, Australia
  3. School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
  4. Foundation Director, The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  5. Endocrine and Diabetes Department, The Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia

INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasingly prevalent amongst adolescents. Diabetes distress is common in Type 1 diabetes, but there is no data about diabetes distress in adolescents with T2D. Research is also limited examining how diabetes teams can better support emotional wellbeing in adolescents with T2D.

AIMS: We aimed to evaluate diabetes distress and emotional well-being; and to qualitatively examine the lived experiences and barriers to healthcare system engagement in adolescents with T2D. 

METHODS: Adolescents with T2D (negative diabetes antibodies) were recruited from the WCH (PCH governance pending). They were asked to complete three questionnaires (diabetes distress scale (DDS), World Health Organisation-5 wellbeing index (WHO-5) and patient health questionnaire-2 [PHQ-2]) and two open-ended questions related to their experience living with T2D and whether they would like additional healthcare system support. Basic demographic and clinical data were also collected.

RESULTS: Eleven participants completed the study (6 males, 1 Indigenous, mean±SD age 16.1±1.4 years, diabetes duration 1.8±1.1years, body mass index 31.9±7.3 kg/m2 and median [IQR] HbA1c 6.3%[5.7-11.3]). Three participants had clinically significant diabetes distress (DDS ≥3), 6 experienced suboptimal emotional wellbeing (WHO-5 score 28-50) and 7 had a PHQ-2 of 2+, indicating an increased risk of depression. Qualitative data revealed that whilst few participants were satisfied with their diabetes care, others desired more frequent appointments with their endocrinologist, access to T2D-specific support groups, and/or more open discussions about the link between T2D and mental health during their appointments. One participant reported wishing her healthcare team understood “the reality of going back to everything normally after diabetes is diagnosed” and another one “I'm young and none of my friends have it.”

CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with T2D experience significant diabetes distress, poor emotional wellbeing and depressive symptoms. They have also unmet needs in relation to diabetes care wanting better mental health and wellbeing support.