1 in 4 young adults living with type 1 diabetes report having moderate to severe anxiety, a national survey reveals.
Published by Diabetes Australia to coincide with National Diabetes Week the online survey of 781 young people aged 10 to 19 years with type 1 diabetes and 826 parents is the first of its kind to explore the well-being and quality of life of young people with diabetes and their parents.
Result showed that 28% of young people reported impaired general emotional well-being; 25% reported moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms and 23% reported moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms.
Depressive symptoms increased with age in both girls and boys, but the frequency and severity of depressive symptoms was markedly higher among girls than boys.
However the survey also highlighted the psychological effects living with diabetes placed on families.
A third of parents reported impaired general emotional well-being and 8% of parents experienced severe anxiety symptoms.