Diabetes Distress in Uninsured Patients with Diabetes During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Observational Study.
J Community Health Nurs
; 40(4): 233-241, 2023 Oct 02.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36999671
ABSTRACT
This study assessed diabetes distress (DD) and glycemic control levels through three time periods during the COVID-19 pandemic in uninsured patients with diabetes. Diabetes Distress Screening Scales 2 and 17 were utilized to identify the prevalence of DD among uninsured patients during multiple stages of the COVID-19 pandemic at the Providing Access to Healthcare (PATH) diabetes clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. For the 328 uninsured diabetic patients who were screened for DD at least once, the mean age was 46 years old with a majority being Black (55.5%), male (56.1%), and non-Hispanic (89.9%). Mean scores reflecting patients' level of DD initially increased in the first 6 months of the pandemic, from 2.86 to 3.44, and then decreased after 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic to 3.09, while their mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) followed a similar pattern of initial increase (from 11.31 to 12.13) followed by a decline (to 10.79). Addressing patient concerns quickly through early interventions to provide alternative means of care through telehealth and accommodating safe pick-up of diabetes supplies and medications, including insulin, can reduce DD and contribute to better management of glycemic control. Understanding the potential direct correlation of DD with HbA1c in uninsured patients with diabetes is an important factor for clinicians when providing care to this vulnerable population.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Diabetes Mellitus
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
J Community Health Nurs
Journal subject:
ENFERMAGEM
/
SAUDE PUBLICA
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Estados Unidos