The Hidden Toll of Type 2 Diabetes: A Quality-of-Life Perspective
Dulanji Gunawardana1,2, Sujatha Salgado1, Indeewarie Gunaratna3
1Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Introduction:
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a pressing global health challenge, affecting over 537 million adults in 2021, with projections of 783 million by 2045. In Sri Lanka, approximately 23% of adults are living with diabetes or prediabetes, whilst many undiagnosed, significantly impacting quality of life (QoL).
Objectives:
To evaluate the impact of T2DM on the QoL of patients in Sri Lanka.
Methodology:
This cross-sectional study included 136 patients with T2DM. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire (sociodemographic and clinical variables) and the WHOQOL-BREF, a validated tool assessing 4 QoL domains: Physical, Psychological, Social, and Environmental. Transformed scores were analyzed statistically across all domains.
Results:
The sample was predominantly female (74.3%), with a mean age of 62.1 ± 10.3 years and an average diabetes duration of 12 years (1-38 years). Overall QoL was significantly associated with psychological, social, and environmental domains (P < .05). Of the participants, 50.7% (n = 69) reported fair QoL, while 26.5% (n = 36) and 22.8% (n = 31) reported poor and good QoL, respectively.
Conclusion:
T2DM substantially affects QoL, particularly in psychological, social, and environmental domains. This underscores the need for comprehensive management strategies to address the multifaceted burdens of T2DM and enhance patients' well-being in developing countries like Sri Lanka.
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