What do patients find stressful about diabetes?

Get better informed by reading the top 5 most versus least frequently indicated issues (based on the PAID scale)
Based on data VUMC-diabetic outpatients; N=301.

Most frequently indicated issues

  1. Worrying about the future and the possibility of serious complications? (item 12) 10,3 15,9 Negative emotions
  2. Feeling that diabetes is taking up too much of your mental and physical energy every day? (item 16) 7,3 10,6 Negative emotions
  3. Feeling overwhelmed by your diabetes? (tem 8) 7,3 9,3 Negative emotions
  4. Feelings of guilt or anxiety when you get off track with your diabetes management? (item 13) 6,3 10,6 Negative emotions
  5. Worrying about low blood sugar reactions? (item 9) 6,3 9,6 Negative emotions
    (Closely following PAID-issue:) Top Question (PAID item) % no. 4 % no. 3 Subscale
  6. Feeling “burned out” by the constant effort needed to manage diabetes? (item 20) 6,0 7,6 Negative emotions


Least frequently indicated

  1. Feeling unsatisfied with your diabetes physician? (item 15) 83,7 10,3 Treatment
    problems
  2. Feeling that your friends and family are not supportive of your diabetes management efforts? (item 18) 80,1 10,0 Lack of soc. supp.
  3. Feeling alone with your diabetes? (item 17) 65,1 19,9 Lack of soc. supp.
  4. Not “accepting” your diabetes? (item 14) 62,5 16,9 Negative emotion
  5. Feeling discouraged with your diabetes treatment plan? (item ) 61,8 19,6 Treatment problems

To view a table version of the Top 5 PAID items document please click here

Access the PAID questionnaire here