Do personality and mood difficulties predict foot self-care in diabetes?

Background: The literature indicates the impact of psychological factors on the development and course of diabetes remains unclear. Aim: To explore personality, depression, diabetes-related distress and illness beliefs in adults attending routine diabetes clinics and investigate whether the extent of these difficulties can predict foot self-care. Methods: Participants were consecutive patients with diabetes attending diabetes outpatient and podiatry clinics in hospitals who completed self-administered questionnaires to access personality traits and evaluate them for personality disorders, depression, diabetes-related distress, beliefs about illness and foot self-care. Results: Approximately 1 in 5 participants screened positive for Type D personality, personality disorders and diabetic-related distress; 8% screened positive for major depression. A standard multiple regression model determined whether foot self-care was predicted by these variables. The results were non-significant, F(13, 106) = 1.63, p = .09. Having macrovascular complications was significantly positively related to foot self-care (r(118) = .20, p = .027). Participants with a current and or past history of DFU had higher BMI, longer duration of diabetes, were more likely to be on insulin therapy and to have concomitant microvascular complications. Conclusion: Personality and mood disorders are prevalent in people attending diabetes clinics, but the variables measured here do not predict foot self-care. Implications for clinical practice: Adults attending specialist podiatry diabetes clinics need clinical pathways to mental health support.