Emotional stress in older persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Brazilian primary health care centres: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to assess emotional stress and its associated factors in older people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), including blood glucose control. This cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2023 and February 2024, and included 147 participants aged 60 years or older attending primary care centers in Brazil. Participants were interviewed at two public community pharmacies while collecting insulin and diabetes supplies. Emotional stress was assessed using the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), with a mean score of ≥3 indicating a high level of emotional stress. Poisson regression was used to assess the factors associated with emotional stress. The prevalence of emotional stress was 22.5%. Complications from DM2 (prevalence ratio [PR]: 3.19; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: [1.69-6.03]), symptoms of hypoglycaemia (PR: 2.17; 95%CI: [1.10-64.26]) and being single (PR: 2.95; CI: [1.43-6.07]) were associated with emotional stress. These results indicate the need for the comprehensive management of patients with DM2 to ensure individualised care according to physical and psychosocial needs. The prevalence of emotional stress was high and correlated with DM2-associated complications, symptoms of hypoglycaemia, and being single.