Assessing depressive symptoms and diabetes distress in Type 1 diabetic adults: a comparison of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and multiple daily injections users

This cross-sectional observational study assesses differences in depressive symptoms and diabetes-distress between adults with type 1 diabetes using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) or multiple daily injections (MDI) insulin delivery methods. Two-hundred and seventy-one adults with type 1 diabetes were recruited who used CSII (n=104) or MDI (n=167). Results show that, compared to CSII users, scores on the Severity Measure for Depression – Adult questionnaire and Management and Physician subscales on the Type 1 Diabetes Distress Scale were significantly lower in users of MDI. Thus, MDI users may require greater targeted support to improve these aspects of psychological wellbeing.