Stability and impact of diabetes distress over time: The potential value and uses of the type 1 diabetes distress assessment system (T1-DDAS)

Authors: Danielle M Hessler, William H Polonsky, Lisa Strycker, Diana Naranjo, Katherine Greenberg, Lawrence Fisher

Abstract

Aims: To document stability and change over time, define a minimal clinically important difference (MCID), and examine the predictive validity of the new Type 1 Diabetes Distress Assessment System (T1-DDAS).

Methods: A total of 574 adults with type 1 diabetes recruited through national registries and previous studies completed the T1-DDAS Core and Source scales alongside a report of insulin taking and glycaemic measures at baseline and 6 months later.

Results: The MCID for the T1-DAS is ±0.27. T1-DDAS scores were highly stable over 6 months: 88% of individuals with elevated Core Diabetes Distress (DD) in the study continued to report elevated DD at or above the 2.0 threshold 6 months later; 57% reported no improvement or a worsening in Core DD based on MCID. Elevated DD at baseline was linked to worsening in reported missed insulin bolus taking and HbA1c at 6 months.

Conclusions: Findings add to our understanding of DD and the utility of the T1-DDAS by demonstrating the stability and predictive validity of the T1-DDAS Core and Source scales to assess DD.

Keywords: diabetes distress; emotion; type 1 diabetes.

Source: Stability and impact of diabetes distress over time: The potential value and uses of the type 1 diabetes distress assessment system (T1-DDAS) – PubMed

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July 18: Time for another T1D meet-up! GrownupT1Ds, a wonderful nonprofit here in southern California, is teaming up with TCOYD and BDI for a special Friday afternoon (3 pm - 6 pm) you won’t want to miss. Dr. Edelman (famed endocrinologist, TCOYD Founder and living with T1D) and Dr. Polonsky (BDI President) will be speaking, and it will be a chance to hang out with other adults with T1D. The event will be held at TCOYD, 5720 Oberlin Drive, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92121. While the event is free, space is limited, so please RSVP https://grownupt1ds.org/.

August 8 – 10. Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD) will be hosting the in-person ONE event, an amazing weekend experience here in San Diego for more than 500 people with type 1 diabetes and their loved ones. Dr. Polonsky is honored to be one of the presenters, and we will hope to see many of you there. There are still a few spaces left, so if you’d like to know more, please visit: https://tcoyd.org/one-2025/