Adherence to Treatment and Psychological States of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus exerts a broad impact on individuals, influencing not only physical health but also behavioral patterns and interpersonal relationships. These physiological and behavioral disruptions may lead to psychological consequences, such as increased emotional distress. This descriptive and cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association between psychological state and adherence to treatment using both subjective and objective indicators. The study was conducted with 753 patients attending a diabetes outpatient clinic in XX. Data were collected using Patient Information Form, the Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treatment Adherence Scale, the General Health Questionnaire-12, and recent HbA1c values. Group comparisons were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn post hoc analysis. Path analysis was conducted to assess the effect of psychological state on treatment adherence and HbA1c levels. Treatment adherence was generally moderate, glycemic control was poor. Although psychological distress had no significant direct effect on treatment adherence, higher GHQ-12 scores were significantly associated with increased HbA1c levels. Women and individuals with comorbidities exhibited higher psychological distress and lower adherence. These findings underscore the necessity of integrating routine psychological screening into diabetes care to support individualized treatment planning and improve glycemic outcomes.