Individuals with type 2 diabetes and depressive symptoms exhibited lower adherence with self-care

Our study aimed to determine whether depressive symptoms are associated with poor self-care behaviors among patients with type 2 diabetes. Study subjects were 168 patients with diabetes, aged >30 years, who had a diabetes history of 1-15 years. Using a self-reported questionnaire, we evaluated diabetes self-care behaviors and depressive symptoms. Self-care behaviors were evaluated in five categories: medication taking, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), diet, exercise, and participation in patient education programs. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scales. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between self-care behaviors and depressive symptoms. Higher depressive-symptom scores were associated with poor self-care behaviors, significantly with poor participation in education programs (odds ratio OR = 1.21, 95% confidence interval CI = 1.06-1.38) and poor diet (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.01-1.22), and marginally with poor medication taking (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.00-1.31). Depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with either SMBG or exercise. These data suggest that the evaluation and control of depressive symptoms among diabetic patients would improve their adherence to self-care behaviors.