Depressive symptoms prior to and following insulin initiation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Prevalence, risk factors and effect on physician resource utilisation

The relationship between the joint effect of C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin with the risk of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults: Findings from the China health and retirement longitudinal study

OBJECTIVES

The present study aimed to explore the relationship between the joint effect of C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin with the risk of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults.

METHODS

A total of 5985 participants aged 45 years or older from the China Health and Retirement longitudinal study 2011 and 2015 were included in this study. Participants were divided into 4 groups according to C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to explore the associations between C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin and new-onset depression.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, 1001(16.73%) participants experienced depressive symptoms. Compared to participants with low C-reactive protein and low glycated hemoglobin, individuals with C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin both high levels have a higher risk to suffer from depressive symptoms with corresponding multivariable adjusted odds ratio (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01-1.36). Adding C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin simultaneously to conventional risk model significantly improved risk reclassification for depressive symptoms. The statistically significant interaction with joint effects of C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin on depressive symptoms was only found in different sex (P-interaction = 0.006) or age (P-interaction = 0.004) groups. Sensitivity analysis yields similar results.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher levels of C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin jointly increased the risk of depressive symptoms among Chinese middle-aged and older adults. Using the combination indicator of C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin could better identify individuals at risk of depressive symptoms.

Prospective study of the association between depressive symptoms at type 2 diabetes diagnosis and time to insulin initiation in the South London diabetes (SOUL-D) cohort

AIMS

Initiation of insulin is usually delayed even when required. We aim to estimate the association between depressive symptoms on time to become insulin requiring and time to insulin initiation.

METHODS

8-year follow-up of a cohort of newly diagnosed people with T2D recruited in south-east London, UK (2008-2012). Baseline depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Time to insulin-requiring was defined when optimal glycaemic levels were not achieved (HbA1c >58 mmol/mol) at least three months after the 2nd oral antidiabetic was prescribed, and time to insulin initiation was defined as first insulin prescription.

RESULTS

Seventy percent (n = 1166) of the baseline cohort was followed up. Median time to insulin requiring was 84 months (IQR 63-100) and to insulin initiation 93 months (IQR 79-105). Participants with depressive symptoms at baseline required insulin earlier (mean [SD] 73.64 [32.16] vs. 79.05 [29.07] months, p = 0.007) and were prescribed insulin sooner (82.53 [30.19] vs. 89.72 [22.02] months, p < 0.001). In Cox regression, depressive symptoms at baseline were not associated with time to insulin requiring (HR [95 % CI]; 1.16 [0.86-1.57], p = 0.34) nor to insulin initiation (HR = 1.00 [0.99-1.00], p = 0.49).

CONCLUSIONS

Depressive symptoms were not associated with time to insulin requiring and initiation after adjusting for potential confounding.

Hemoglobin A1c-levels and subsequent risk of depression in individuals with and without diabetes

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that long-term glycemic load as reflected in plasma levels of Glycosylated Hemoglobin, Type A1C (HbA1c) is associated with higher risk of depression, however results have been conflicting. We examined the potential association between HbA1c and risk of depression in a large population-based cohort without baseline diabetes (the Glostrup cohort) defined by either self-reported diabetes, registry diagnosis of diabetes or use of antidiabetic medication at baseline and in a national diabetes cohort (the Danish Adult Diabetes Database).

METHODS

A total of 16,124 middle-aged individuals from the Glostrup cohort and 93,544 patients registered in the Danish Adult Diabetes Database were followed from the first registered HbA1c measurement (1999-2014) for subsequent diagnosis of depression or use of antidepressant medication in nation-wide Danish registers. The association was analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards regression model with HbA1c on both a continuous scale using restricted cubic splines and categorized based on the groups found in the spline model. We adjusted for relevant sociodemographic and clinical variables including previous depression and tested for interaction of both gender, insulin use and diabetes type.

RESULTS

During follow-up, 2694 (17%) in the Glostrup cohort and 29,234 (31%) in the diabetes cohort developed depression. In the Glostrup cohort, we found an indication of a positive linear association between HbA1c and depression in women, while no clear association was found in men. In patients with diabetes, we found a U-shaped association between HbA1c and depression in both men and women with the lowest risk estimates for HbA1c levels of 58 mmol/mol (7.5%) in men and of 60 mmol/mol (7.6%) in women. When HbA1c was categorized, men with the highest HbA1c-levels had significantly elevated risk of depression (HR_HbA1c>9.4 1.16 (95%CI 1.10-1.23)) after multifactorial adjustment compared to the reference group with HbA1c of 42.1-56.2 mmol/mol (6.0-7.3%). Women in the lowest and highest category of HbA1c had significantly higher risk of depression HR_HbA1c<6.0 1.15 (95% CI 1.09-1.22) and HR_HbA1c>9.3 1.10 (95% CI 1.04-1.16), respectively, compared to the reference group with HbA1c 42.1-55.0 mmol/mol (7.2-9.3%). There was a significant interaction with gender, but no interaction for insulin use or diabetes type.

CONCLUSIONS

In a population without baseline diabetes, higher HbA1c levels seemed associated with higher depression risk in women, whereas a U-shaped association was found in patients with known diabetes.

Psychosocial aspects and contributions of behavioural science to medication-taking for adults with type 2 diabetes

The aim of this narrative review was to determine the contribution of behavioural and psychosocial research to the field of medication-taking for adults with type 2 diabetes over the past 25 years. We review the behavioural and psychosocial literature relevant to adults with type 2 diabetes who are treated with oral antidiabetes agents, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and insulin. Delayed uptake of, omission of and non-persistence with medications are significant problems among adults with type 2 diabetes. At each stage of the course of diabetes, during which medication to lower blood glucose is initiated or intensified, ~50% of people take less medication than prescribed. Research aimed at increasing optimal medication-taking behaviour has targeted 'forgetfulness', developing interventions which aid medication-taking, such as reminder devices, with limited success. In parallel, investigation of beliefs about medication has provided insights into the perceived necessity of and concerns about medication and how these inform medication-taking decisions. Guidance is available for health professionals to facilitate shared decision-making, particularly with insulin therapy; however, interventions addressing medication beliefs are limited. Optimal medication-taking behaviour is essential to prevent hyperglycaemia in adults with type 2 diabetes. Evidence from the past 25 years has demonstrated the association between medication beliefs and medication-taking behaviour. Health professionals need to address medication concerns, and establish and demonstrate the utility of diabetes medication with the individual within the clinical consultation. There are interventions that may assist diabetes health professionals in the shared decision-making process, but further development and more robust evaluation of these tools and techniques is required.

Supporting insulin initiation in type 2 diabetes in primary care: results of the Stepping Up pragmatic cluster randomised controlled clinical trial

Objective To compare the effectiveness of a novel model of care ("Stepping Up") with usual primary care in normalising insulin initiation for type 2 diabetes, leading to improved glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels.Design Cluster randomised controlled trial.Setting Primary care practices in Victoria, Australia, with a practice nurse and at least one consenting eligible patient (HbA1c ≥7.5% with maximal oral treatment).Participants 266 patients with type 2 diabetes and 74 practices (mean cluster size 4 (range 1-8) patients), followed up for 12 months.Intervention The Stepping Up model of care intervention involved theory based change in practice systems and reorientation of the roles of health professionals in the primary care diabetes team. The core components were an enhanced role for the practice nurse in leading insulin initiation and mentoring by a registered nurse with diabetes educator credentials.Main outcome measures The primary endpoint was change in HbA1c. Secondary endpoints included the proportion of participants who transitioned to insulin, proportion who achieved target HbA1c, and a change in depressive symptoms (patient health questionnaire, PHQ-9), diabetes specific distress (problem areas in diabetes scale, PAID), and generic health status (assessment of quality of life instrument, AQoL-8D).Results HbA1c improved in both arms, with a clinically significant between arm difference (mean difference -0.6%, 95% confidence interval -0.9% to -0.3%), favouring the intervention. At 12 months, in intervention practices, 105/151 (70%) of participants had started insulin, compared with 25/115 (22%) in control practices (odds ratio 8.3, 95% confidence interval 4.5 to 15.4, P<0.001). Target HbA1c (≤7% (53 mmol/mol)) was achieved by 54 (36%) intervention participants and 22 (19%) control participants (odds ratio 2.2, 1.2 to 4.3, P=0.02). Depressive symptoms did not worsen at 12 months (PHQ-9: -1.1 (3.5) v -0.1 (2.9), P=0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between arms in the mean change in mental health (AQoL mental component summary: 0.04 (SD 0.16) v -0.002 (0.13), mean difference 0.04 (95% confidence interval 0.002 to 0.08), P=0.04), favouring the intervention, but no significant difference in physical health (AQoL physical component summary: 0.03 (0.15) v 0.02 (0.13)) nor diabetes specific distress (5.6 (15.5) v -2.4 (15.4)). No severe hypoglycaemia events were reported.Conclusions The Stepping Up model of care was associated with increased insulin initiation rates in primary care, and improvements in glycated haemoglobin without worsening emotional wellbeing.Trial registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12612001028897.

Evaluation of quality of life and depression levels in individuals with Type 2 diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Improving the quality of life in diabetic individuals is known to reduce morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate the quality of life and depression symptomatology situations and the related factors in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, 440 adult patients with Type 2 DM and under treatment admitted to Selcuk University Family Medicine Outpatient Diabetes Education Clinic were included in the study. A questionnaire containing sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, the Short Form 36 (SF-36) quality of life questionnaire was applied with Beck depression inventory face to face interviews.

RESULTS

Mean scores of females in all SF-36 subscales were statistically significantly lower than those of male patients. Physical function, physical role limitations, general health, social function, emotional role limitations, and mental health mean scores of the patients with 1-10 years duration of diabetes were found statistically significantly higher than those with 20 years and over duration of diabetes. Physical function, physical role limitations, pain, general health, and social function mean scores in patients using oral antidiabetic drug (OAD) was statistically significantly higher compared to patients using insulin + OAD. The average physical function scores of the patients with no complications were statistically significantly higher than those with two and more complications.

CONCLUSION

Quality of life and depression symptomatology are worse in females, the elderly, the overweight, people with lower level of education, in the widowed or divorced, homemakers, those with low incomes, those with longer duration of diabetes, patients using insulin, and those with two or more complications. There are many medical and sociodemographic factors affecting the quality of life and depressive symptomatology in the individuals with diabetes, so both health care workers and patients should pay the necessary attention to this issue.

Do pre-existing diabetes social support or depressive symptoms influence the effectiveness of a diabetes management intervention?

OBJECTIVE

Examine influences of diabetes-specific social support (D-SS) and depressive symptoms on glycemic control over time, among adults randomized to a diabetes self-management education and support (DSME/S) intervention or usual care.

METHODS

Data were from 108 African-American and Latino participants in a 6-month intervention trial. Multivariable linear regression models assessed associations between baseline D-SS from family and friends and depressive symptoms with changes in HbA1c. We then examined whether baseline D-SS or depression moderated intervention-associated effects on HbA1c.

RESULTS

Higher baseline D-SS was associated with larger improvements in HbA1c (adjusted ΔHbA1c -0.39% for each +1-point D-SS, p=0.02), independent of intervention-associated HbA1c decreases. Baseline depressive symptoms had no significant association with subsequent HbA1c change. Neither D-SS nor depression moderated intervention-associated effects on HbA1c.

CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Diabetes self-management education and support programs have potential to improve glycemic control for participants starting with varying levels of social support and depressive symptoms. Participants starting with more support for diabetes management from family and friends improved HbA1c significantly more over 6 months than those with less support, independent of additional significant DSME/S intervention-associated HbA1c improvements. Social support from family and friends may improve glycemic control in ways additive to DSME/S.