Relationship of depression and diabetes self-care, medication adherence, and preventive care

Abstract

OBJECTIVE — We assessed whether diabetes self-care, medication adherence, and use of preventive services were associated with depressive illness. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS — In a large health maintenance organization, 4,463 patients with diabetes completed a questionnaire assessing self-care, diabetes monitoring, and depression. Automated diagnostic, laboratory, and pharmacy data were used to assess glycemic control, medication adherence, and preventive services. RESULTS — This predominantly type 2 diabetic population had a mean HbA1c level of 7.8 1.6%. Three-quarters of the patients received hypoglycemic agents (oral or insulin) and reported at least weekly self-monitoring of glucose and foot checks. The mean number of HbA1c tests was 2.2 1.3 per year and was only slightly higher among patients with poorly controlled diabetes. Almost one-half (48.9%) had a BMI30 kg/m2, and 47.8 % of patients exercised once a week or less. Pharmacy refill data showed a 19.5 % nonadherence rate to oral hypoglycemic medicines (mean 67.4 74.1 days) in the prior year. Major depression was associated with less physical activity, unhealthy diet, and lower adherence to oral hypoglycemic, antihypertensive, and lipid-lowering medications. In contrast, preventive care of diabetes, including home-glucose tests, foo