News & Research

Diabetes and anxiety in U.S. adults: findings from the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, by C. Li and colleagues. Diabetic Medicine 25: 878-881, 2008

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

There are 12 types of common and disabling mental health problems that are related to anxiety. These problems can hurt a person's well-being and ability to function. For people with diabetes, anxiety problems can make taking care of their disease more difficult. Little is known about the relationship between diabetes and anxiety problems.

Why did researchers do this particular study?

The researchers wanted to find out if anxiety problems are more common among people with diabetes than among the general public.

Who was studied?

The study included more than 200,000 adults with and without diabetes who participated in a large nationwide study on behavior and mental health.

How was the study done?

The researchers collected information about how many of the subjects had diabetes and anxiety problems and estimated the percentages of people with and without diabetes who are likely to develop anxiety problems.

What did the researchers find?

After taking many other factors into account, people with diabetes were 20 percent more likely than those without diabetes to have an anxiety condition at some point in their lifetime. Adults under age 30 and Hispanics had the highest rates of anxiety problems.

What were the limitations of the study?

Information about anxiety problems came from the patients based on their answers to one question on the survey. These answers may not have been accurate. Also, because of the study design, the researchers were able to find a link between the diabetes and anxiety but could not find out which one might develop first or how each affects the other.

What are the implications of the study?

There is a strong link between diabetes and anxiety problems, especially among Hispanics and young adults.

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