Relationship between depressive and anxiety symptoms and fear of hypoglycemia among adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Emotional problems including anxiety, depression and fear of hypoglycemia (FOH) are common in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among patients with T1DM and their relation to glycemic control, diabetes complications and to FOH. METHODS: This study included 325 patients with T1DM. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and FOH was assessed by Hypoglycemia Fear Survey II (HFS-II). Glycemic control was assessed by both fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c. A subsample of 75 patients was screened for diabetes complications. RESULTS: The prevalence of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms and FOH was 76.3%, 61.8% and 20% respectively. Female sex was related to depressive symptoms but not to anxiety symptoms. Logistic regression analysis showed that both HbA1c and HFS-II total score were independently correlated with both anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms. Age showed independent correlation with both HFS-II (total score) and with Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-worry (HFS-W) while HbA1c showed independent correlation with Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-behavior (HFS-B). Both anxiety and depressive symptoms were positively correlated to HFS-B score, HFS-W score and HFS-II total score. CONCLUSIONS: FOH is not uncommon among Egyptian patients with T1DM and it seems to be one of the factors contributing to the increased prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among those individuals. Addressing and managing the different psychological aspects of diabetes should be integrated within the routine diabetes care services for people with T1DM.

Prevalence of erectile dysfunction among Egyptian male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The relation between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and erectile dysfunction (ED) has been identified in multiple studies. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to estimate the prevalence and to determine some associated factors of ED among a sample of adult Egyptian male patients with T2DM. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 150 adult male patients with T2DM (aged 40-60 years) who attended the outpatient clinic of Diabetes in Alexandria Main University hospital. They were evaluated for the presence of ED which was assessed by the validated Arabic-translated five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c, total serum cholesterol, HDL-C, total serum testosterone (TT) and urinary albumin creatinine ratio (uACR) were measured for all study subjects. RESULTS: The prevalence of ED was 80% among the studied sample. Significant negative correlation was found between IIEF-5 score and age, duration of diabetes, FBG and urinary ACR; while there was a significant positive correlation between IIEF-5 score and serum total testosterone. On performing multiple linear regression analysis for the parameters affecting IIEF-5 questionnaire score, TT, urinary ACR, age and FBG were the independent predictors of ED. CONCLUSION: ED was a common finding in our sample of Egyptian men with T2DM. Poor glycemic control and albuminuria may be considered as independent risk factors for ED.

Association of diabetic foot ulcers with chronic vascular diabetic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.

CONTEXT: Diabetes mellitus is a common disease which is prevalent globally, presenting with chronic complications and constitutes a major risk to the patient. Diabetic foot ulcers are the single biggest risk factor for non-traumatic lower limb amputations in persons with diabetes. We aimed to screen for the chronic vascular diabetic complications in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and to assess the association of diabetic foot ulcers with these complications in the study group. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 180 type 2 diabetic patients (aged 30-70 years) with diabetic foot ulcers who attended the Outpatient Clinic of Diabetes in Alexandria Main University Hospital. Full diabetic foot examination was done to all study subjects. DFUs were assessed using University of Texas Diabetic Wound Classification System. HbA1c, LDL-C, serum creatinine, and urinary albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) were measured for all study subjects. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using CKD-EPI equation. Fundus examination was done for all study subjects. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) was 86.1% and 90% respectively among the study group. 86.7% of patients had neuropathic DFUs, 11.1% of them had ischemic DFUs and 2.2% had neuro-ischemic DFUs. Regarding diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) as risk factors for developing DFU, the prevalence of both of them respectively was 82% and 20% among the study group. There was statistically significant association between both DKD, DR and peripheral neuropathy. There was also statistically significant association between both DKD, DR and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). CONCLUSION: Chronic vascular diabetic complications are common among type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic foot ulcers. There is statistically significant association between these complications and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).