Denial of disease in Type 2 diabetes mellitus: its influence on metabolic control and associated factors

• Published in: Diabetic medicine 1999-03, Vol.16 (3), p.238-244
• Main Authors: Garay-Sevilla, M. E., Malacara, J. M., Gutiérrez-Roa, A., González, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: belief in medicine; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; denial; Denial (Psychology); Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - psychology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Management. Various non-drug treatments. Langerhans islet grafts; medical care; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Patient Satisfaction; perceived stress; Pilot Projects; Regression Analysis; Social Support; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tropical medicine
• ISSN: 0742-3071; 1464-5491
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1464-5491.1999.00033.x

Summary Aims We have investigated denial of disease in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and its possible association with metabolic control, and with psychosocial variables: satisfaction with medical care, perceived stress, social support, knowledge of diabetes and belief in conventional medicine. Methods We studied 160 patients in a cross‐sectional design, in two groups: with (70) and without social security coverage (90). The mean age for the total group was 53.6 years, with a known diabetes duration of 8.1 years. Results Denial of disease was similar in those with ≤ 5 years since diagnosis (73 patients) and with > 5 years (87). The group without social security had higher scores of perceived stress, and lower scores of social support, knowledge about diabetes and belief in conventional medicine; denial, however, was similar in the two groups with or without social security. Multiple regression analysis showed that denial of disease was positively associated with HbA1c in the total group (P  5 years since diagnosis, as well as in the groups with or without social security. Denial was also associated with years since diagnosis (P = 0.009) for the group with ≤ 5 years since diagnosis. Conclusions We concluded that, in patients with Type 2 DM denial of disease increases with time during the first 5 years of evolution of diabetes; is associated with poor metabolic control; but is not associated with knowledge of diabetes, belief in conventional medicine, social support or perceived stress. Diabet. Med. 16, 238–244 (1999)