Effects of psychological intervention on glucose metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus accompanying depression in community

Abstract

Objective: To explore the effect of psychological intervention on glucose metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accompanying depression in community.

Methods: Four hundred and ten cases of T2DM patients in the Community Health Service Center of Friendship Office (Baotou) were chosen as the research objects. The evaluation and analysis were made according to Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS), and 176 cases of T2DM patients with depression were found out in the community. 176 cases of T2DM patients with depression were divided into the experimental group and the control group by use of random number table, with 88 cases in each group. The control group was treated with conventional therapy, while the experimental group was given psychological intervention treatment on the basis of conventional therapy. After 3-month psychological intervention, fasting blood glucose (FPG), two-hour postprandial blood glucose (PG2h), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and Zung self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were measured in two groups. In two months after psychological intervention stopped, the follow-up was conducted to determine the levels of FPG, PG2h and HbA1c, and to assess the level of depression and quality of life. Statistical analysis was performed by use of SPSS 17.0 statistical software.

Results: After 3-month psychological intervention, the levels of FPG, PG2h and HbA1c in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group, the depression index was significantly lower than that in the control group as well, the difference was statistically significant (p < .01). In two months after psychological intervention stopped, glucose metabolism indicators in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group; the depression index was dramatically lower than that in the control group, the difference was of statistical significance (p < .01).

Conclusions: Psychological intervention can effectively improve the depression symptoms and glucose metabolism indicators in T2DM patients with depression in community, but it needs a long-term persistence.