Stigma and its relationship with life satisfaction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Introduction and aim. This study aims to determine the level of stigma in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and evaluate its relationship with their life satisfaction. Material and methods. This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted in a single tertiary care center. Two hundred and ten patients ≥18 years old diagnosed with T2DM were included in this study. The relationship between the “Type 2 diabetes stigma assessment scale” and the “Satisfaction with life scale” was assessed using Pearson correlation analysis. Results. The average age of the participants was 54.85±15.81 years. The majority of patients reported adherence to diabetes treatment and having comorbidities. Stigma levels were higher in patients ≤65 years, those with less than a high school education, and those receiving insulin or oral anti-diabetic treatment, but lower with a T2DM diagnosis duration of ≤ 5 years (p<0.05). Life satisfaction was influenced by age, education status, economic status, adherence to treatment, dietary compliance, and the presence of comorbidities. A moderately negative relationship between stigma level and life satisfaction was identified. Conclusion. The study’s results indicate that an increase in stigma level is associated with a decrease in life satisfaction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.