Abstract
BackgroundThe data of the International Diabetes Federation show that about 463 million people have diabetes. Better understanding of psychosocial aspects of life with this disease has become one of healthcare priorities in this group of patients. The aim of this study was to assess the relationships between loneliness and blood glucose control in diabetic patients.MethodsThe study included 250 hospitalized patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes. The patients included in the study were those who had had diabetes for at least 1 year and received pharmacotherapy. Standardized Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA) and an analysis of patient test results including 10 indicators of blood glucose control were used for data collection. Correlation analysis, i.e. Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient (r, parametric method), was used for hypothesis verification.ResultsLess than one-fifth (16%) of the patients included in the study had higher loneliness index (based on the R-UCLA scale), and this loneliness index (total result) was significantly correlated with higher blood pressure. No significant correlations were demonstrated between loneliness and the other 9 indicators of blood glucose control.ConclusionsSystolic blood pressure was significantly correlated with loneliness in patients with diabetes. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Highlights
The data of the International Diabetes Federation show that about 463 million people have diabetes
We proposed a hypothesis that loneliness is a negative psychosocial factor, which makes it difficult for diabetic patients to achieve adequate blood glucose control
Available studies indicate that Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and body mass index (BMI) were the most common metabolic control indicators assessed in relation to loneliness [12, 14, 21, 22]
Summary
The aim of this study was to assess the relationships between loneliness and blood glucose control in diabetic patients. The data of the International Diabetes Federation show that about 463 million people have diabetes It was estimated in 2019 that the number of diabetic patients aged between 65 and 99 years was 135.6 million (19.3%) [1]. Data from the National Health Fund estimate that there were 2.55 million of adult patients with diabetes in 2014 in Poland (4-year prevalence), and this number increased to 2.86 million in 2018. Determination of relationships between loneliness at an older age and metabolic biomarkers and vascular diseases was one of the aims of the research. The mean incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus was significantly higher in the group of lonely individuals [5]
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