WED-043 - Mental Health Disparities in Adults with T2D Diabetes: Depression and Emotional Distress in the U.S

Poster Presenter: Farhana Khandoker, MS – Graduate Assistant, Financial Aid and Scholarships, UNLV, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Author: Timothy J. Grigsby, n/a – Assistant Professor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Brief Abstract Summary: Depression and emotional distress are disproportionately high among adults with type 2 diabetes, yet these challenges are often overlooked in chronic disease care. Using national data from the 2023 BRFSS survey, this study demonstrates that individuals with diabetes report significantly higher rates of depression and frequent mentally unhealthy days compared to those without the condition. Even after accounting for social, demographic, and behavioral factors such as income, education, age, and physical activity, diabetes remained an independent predictor of poorer mental health outcomes. These findings underscore the urgency of addressing the psychological burden of chronic illness. Attendees will gain insight into how social determinants and inequities amplify these disparities and why integrating mental health screening, support services, and equity-driven interventions into diabetes management is essential to improve overall health and quality of life.

Detailed abstract description: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a common and growing chronic condition in the United States, affecting both physical and mental health. Many people living with T2D face psychological challenges, including emotional fatigue, stress, and depression. However, national-level data examining mental health disparities in this population remain limited. Depression and emotional distress are often silent struggles for adults living with type 2 diabetes (T2D). While the physical complications of diabetes are widely recognized, its emotional impact is less visible yet just as significant. This study highlights the ways in which diabetes and mental health intersect, shedding light on disparities that affect millions of Americans.

Drawing on national data from the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), we analyzed responses from more than 76,000 adults to compare mental health outcomes between those with and without diabetes. The results were striking: nearly half of adults with diabetes reported depression, compared with fewer than four in ten among those without the disease. Adults with diabetes also reported more frequent days of poor emotional well-being. These differences remained consistent even after adjusting for age, race, income, education, BMI, physical activity, and insurance coverage, confirming that diabetes itself remains an independent predictor of poor mental health outcomes.

The analysis further revealed which groups are most vulnerable. Adults reporting poor general health, women, and those with lower income or education levels faced significantly higher odds of depression, compounding the burden of living with diabetes. Together, these findings reinforce that diabetes is not only a chronic physical condition but also a major driver of psychological and emotional challenges.

This presentation emphasizes the importance of recognizing the mental health disparities faced by adults with diabetes and understanding how social and economic inequities intensify these struggles. By focusing on the integration of mental health care into chronic disease frameworks, it highlights why public health strategies must address the whole person rather than physical health alone. Integrating screening, support services, and equity-focused interventions into diabetes care is essential to reducing disparities and improving quality of life. Attendees will gain both data-driven insights and practical ideas to advance more inclusive, equity-centered public health programs and policies that respond to the intertwined nature of chronic illness and mental health.