Effect of comorbid depression on quality of life in adults with Type 2 diabetes

Abstract

This review outlines the effect of depression on quality of life (QoL) in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The prevalence and medical, psychological and financial burden of T2DM in the USA are briefly discussed, similar to the findings related to patients living with T2DM and depression in terms of health-related QoL. Recommendations for future research include studying mechanisms by which depression affects the QoL of T2DM patients, outlining effects of positive emotions on managing consequences of distress and depression in these patients, and developing interventions to address both depression and diabetes that minimize the treatment burden and costs for patients.