Severity of depression but not anxiety symptoms may impact the glucose metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes according to a recent study published in 'Frontiers in Medicine’. The cohort included 338 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes from six primary care practices in this cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire (patient history, anthropometric, socioeconomic, laboratory parameters), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) were used.

The mean age of the sample was 64.0 ± 11.5 (years ± SD), 61% of participants were female. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 21%, mainly moderate/severe symptoms (13%). Anxiety was observed among 35% of the cohort. The researchers found significant univariate association between the depressive symptoms and HbA1c (p = 0.001), suicide attempt (p < 0.001),anxiety (p < 0.001), micro- and macrovascular complication (p = 0.028 and p < 0.001), education (p = 0.001) and place of residence (p = 0.002).

The study concluded that severe depressive symptoms were associated with worse glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

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