QUALITY-OF-LIFE AMONG A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF PEOPLE WITH DIABETES-MELLITUS IN SWEDEN

Psychological well-being and treatment satisfaction have been studied in relation to gender and treatment regimens in a representative sampl e of people with diabetes in Sweden by self-rated questionnaires desig ned and developed for people with diabetes. The insulin-treated patien ts consisted of 93 women and 60 men and the diet/tablet treated consis ted of 230 women and 193 men. Women had significantly higher depressio n scores than men in the insulin-treated as well as in the diet/tablet treated group. Insulin-treated women also had significantly higher an xiety scores, lower energy scores and lower general well-being scores than men. The depressed mood seemed to affect women irrespective of me tabolic control. These results suggest that the general reduction in q uality of life parameters in females might be a consequence of general socio-economic factors rather than directly related to the disease.