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Diabetes Treatment and Mental Illness: A Call for an Integrated Health Care System in Underserved Semi-Rural Malaysia

Author

Listed:
  • Govindamal Thangiah

    (South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) & Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Hamimatunnisa Johar

    (South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) & Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
    Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Giessen and Marburg, 35392 Giessen, Germany
    Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Munich, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Roshidi Ismail

    (South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) & Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia)

  • Ulrich Reininghaus

    (Department of Public Mental Health, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
    ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
    Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK)

  • Till Bärnighausen

    (Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Sivakumar Thurairajasingam

    (Clinical School Johor Bahru, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Johor Bahru 80100, Malaysia)

  • Daniel Reidpath

    (Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh EH21 6UU, UK)

  • Tin Tin Su

    (South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) & Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
    Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany)

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) management imposes a tremendous psychological burden on patients. The study investigates the association between DM treatment with blood glucose (BG) control and common mental health conditions. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1821 individuals with DM in a community-based survey conducted in 2013. Information on respondents’ sociodemographic, mental health, DM treatment, and BG levels was collected. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to examine the association of diabetes treatment with controlled BG levels (<11.1 mmol/L) (42.5%, n = 774) or uncontrolled BG levels (34.3%, n = 625) compared with those not undergoing treatment (23.2%, n = 422) on depression anxiety, and stress. Having DM treatment and controlled BG was associated with high depressive symptoms (Relative Risk Ratio, RRR: 2.42; 95% CI 1.33–4.41) and high anxiety symptoms (1.66; 1.08–2.56) but not with perceived stress. However, treated DM with uncontrolled BG was associated with anxiety (high: 1.64; 1.05–2.56; low: 2.59; 1.10–6.09) but not depression or perceived stress. Our results suggest that being treated for DM, regardless of glucose control status, was associated with anxiety symptoms, whereas being treated with controlled BG was associated with high depressive symptoms. This situation highlights the need for integrative, multidisciplinary care for DM patients with mental health comorbidities.

Suggested Citation

  • Govindamal Thangiah & Hamimatunnisa Johar & Roshidi Ismail & Ulrich Reininghaus & Till Bärnighausen & Sivakumar Thurairajasingam & Daniel Reidpath & Tin Tin Su, 2022. "Diabetes Treatment and Mental Illness: A Call for an Integrated Health Care System in Underserved Semi-Rural Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:10015-:d:887818
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