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On the relation among psychological distress, diabetes-related health behavior, and level of glycosylated hemoglobin in type I diabetes

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Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the relation between psychological distress, diabetes-related health behavior, and metabolic aspects of diabetes. Fifty-one adult patients with type I diabetes mellitus took part in the study. Psychological status, health, and self-care behavior were assessed by means of questionnaires. Level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAtc) served as the index of metabolic control. Depression was slightly elevated among women as was trait anxiety and blood-injury phobia or fear of medical interventions in all patients. Depression and anxiety were not related to duration of diabetes or presence of diabetes complications. As could be expected, patients who frequently checked their blood glucose level had a significantly lower level of HbAtc than those with infrequent checks. Patients with a marked blood-injury phobia carried out fewer daily checks of blood glucose level than those without, but blood-injury phobia was not directly related to HbAtc. level. A higher level of HbAtc was, however, associated with mood deterioration. As depression was not related to health behavior, its effect on metabolic control is likely to be mediated via endocrine rather than behavioral variables.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Psychology, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany

    J. Metsch & G. Sartory

  2. Department of Medicine, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Klinikum Elberfeld, Wuppertal, Germany

    H. Tillil & J. Köbberling

  3. Clinical Psychology, University of Wuppertal, Max Horkheimer Stra\e 20, 42097, Wuppertal, Germany

    G. Sartory

Authors
  1. J. Metsch
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  2. H. Tillil
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  3. J. Köbberling
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  4. G. Sartory
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Additional information

H. Tillil was supported by a grant from the Paul-Kuth-Stiftung, Wuppertal, Germany.

We thank the diabetic patients for participating in the study and the technologists of the Department of Clinical Chemistry of the Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Klinikum Elberfeld for performing the HbAk determinations. We are indebted to S. Waadt for allowing us to use the questionnaire of daily problems with diabetes and to Gerhard Arminger for his help with the data analysis.

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Metsch, J., Tillil, H., Köbberling, J. et al. On the relation among psychological distress, diabetes-related health behavior, and level of glycosylated hemoglobin in type I diabetes. Int. J. Behav. Med. 2, 104–117 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm0202_2

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