We examined the association between diabetes stigma, sociodemographic and psychosocial variables in AYAs with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study, 2016-2019. A 5-question survey assessed frequency of perceived stigma experience, from which we created a total stigma score. We used multivariable modeling to examine these associations adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, age, clinic site, diabetes duration, education level, health insurance type, treatment regimen, and HbA1c levels. Analyses were stratified by diabetes type. Of the 1,6AYAs who completed the stigma survey, 78% had T1D, 56% were female, and 48% were non-Hispanic White. Mean (SD) age at study visit was 21.7 (5.1) years (range - 24.9 years) . Mean (SD) HbA1c level was 9.2% (2.3) . Participants with T1D with lower household income had higher stigma scores compared to those with higher household income (p=0.03) . Among AYAs with T1D or T2D, higher stigma score was associated with food insecurity (p< 0.01) , disordered eating behaviors (p < 0.01) , depressive symptoms (p < 0.01) , and decreased AYA (p<0.01) and diabetes quality of life (p < 0.01) scores. Diabetes stigma is associated with food insecurity and decreased psychosocial functioning and therefore is important to address in providing comprehensive diabetes care.

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Disclosure

K.B.Eitel: None. E.T.Jensen: Consultant; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. A.D.Liese: None. S.M.Marcovina: None. E.J.Mayer-davis: None. K.Reynolds: Research Support; Amgen Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. C.Pihoker: None. A.J.Roberts: None. R.Dagostino: Consultant; Aetion, Inc., AstraZeneca, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Daiichi Sankyo, Merck & Co., Inc. R.A.Bell: None. A.Bellatorre: None. C.E.Barrett: None. A.Cristello: None. D.Dabelea: None. L.M.Dolan: None.

Funding

The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Cohort Study (1R01DK127208-01, 1UC4DK108173) is funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

© 2022 by the American Diabetes Association
2022
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