Diabetes stigma tied to food insecurity, disordered eating and lower psychosocial well-being in diabetes patients: Study
Health-related stigma is a personal experience of exclusion, rejection or blame resulting in an adverse social judgement about a person with a specific health condition. Diabetes stigma in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) is associated with elevated HbA1c, female sex and some diabetes complications. AYAs with diabetes have an increased burden of psychological comorbidities, but little is known about how this interacts with diabetes stigma.
A recent study published in Diabetes Care concluded that there is an association between diabetes stigma and food insecurity, disordered eating and lower psychological well-being.
Researchers examined the association between diabetes stigma, socioeconomic status, psychosocial variables, and substance use in AYAs with a history of diabetes (type 1 or type 2).
This study analyzed diabetes-related stigma in AYAs using a survey from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study to generate a diabetes stigma score. Multivariable modeling examined the relationship between diabetes stigma and variables of interest, stratified by diabetes type.
Key findings in the study are:
- One thousand six hundred eight respondents completed the diabetes-related stigma survey.
- 78% had type 1 diabetes with a mean age of 21.7 years.
- Higher diabetes stigma scores were associated with food insecurity, disordered eating, depressive symptoms and decreased health-related and diabetes-specific quality of life.
- In those with type 1 diabetes, diabetes-related stigma scores were positively associated with current tobacco use and negatively associated with alcohol use.
Concluding further, Diabetes stigma is associated with food insecurity, disordered eating, and lower psychosocial well-being.
SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study is a multicenter cohort study. This cohort collected questionnaire, laboratory and physical exam data in youth and young adults. These were diagnosed with diabetes in childhood.
The study received funding from the CDC and was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Reference:
Eitel et al. Diabetes stigma and psychosocial outcomes in adolescents and young adults: The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study. Diabetes Care. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-1453
