title: The psychological impact of living with diabetes: Descriptive findings from the DAWN2 study in Denmark.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The descriptive findings from the Danish sample of the second Diabetes, Attitudes, Wishes, and Needs (DAWN2) study are presented, with specific focus on the psychological impact of living with diabetes and quality of life for people with diabetes and family members of people with diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  502 people with diabetes over the age of 18 and 122 family members completed questionnaires online, by telephone or in person, including validated measures of diabetes-related distress, emotional well-being and quality of life as well as other measures of psychological well-being.
  
  
  RESULTS
  People with diabetes reported that living with diabetes was a psychological burden, with individuals taking insulin medication or diagnosed with type 1 diabetes reporting the most distress. Half of all family members sampled reported that living with diabetes impacted them negatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher levels of emotional distress found in people taking insulin medication are likely due to greater disease severity and associated self-care burdens. Care and support programmes may need to be revised in order to better address these issues. Moreover, psychological support programmes may need to be extended to include family members that experience distress as a result of living with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. Electronic address: ajones@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette Zander
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hans J D
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Perrild
authors.affiliation: Steno Health Promotion Center, Steno Diabetes Center, Gentofte, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Willaing
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin
keywords: Family members; People with diabetes; Psychological wellbeing; Quality of life