Abstract
Background: Marriage is an integral part of Indian society. In spite of the large number of people with diabetes mellitus (DM) in India, India is not a diabetes-friendly society. This survey highlights perceptions of diabetes patient population with regards to marriage, associated diabetes distress, and suggests potential solutions. If Diabetic patients consider them unfit to marry and think that people don’t accept diabetics as a bride or groom and they can’t have a family, it’s a serious issue. There is no survey till date on this topic with surveyed population. Methods: 68 randomly selected unmarried diabetes patient, males and females, from rural and urban areas of central India were asked to fill a survey questionnaire online. The inclusion criteria were age 18-35, having T1DM or T2DM and no history of mental disorder. Results: Responses were analyzed and plotted. Most of the respondents (85 %) were not willing to accept a diabetic groom or bride, the acceptability was more in males, in urban dwellers, with higher academic qualification, and parents without diabetes. Most were worried about the complication of the disease. Majority of responders (76 %) think diabetes affect future progeny. (87 %) think they will become burden for their life partner, (T1DM > T2DM). Conclusion: Misconception regarding social, occupational, marital abilities, fertility, genetics, quality of life in young people living with DM raises major barriers to marriage, People with DM are wrongly assumed to be sick, disabled, dependent persons, unsuitable for marriages, and likely to have complicated pregnancies with the possibility of having children with diabetes. Diabetes distress and psychological issues are major problems related to marriage in young people with DM. Counseling of patients, family, relatives, prospective spouse, and increasing social awareness regarding diabetes through mass communication will serve as the keys to their resolution. Disclosure B. Saboo: None. A. Shrivastava: None. B. D. Saboo: None.
Published Version
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