Factors for Social Stressors Among Type 2 Diabetics Versus Non-Diabetics Using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

Objective This study aimed to evaluate different factors of social stressors among people with type II diabetes versus non-diabetics by using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Methodology This case-control study was done for one year at Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Diagnosed patients with type II diabetes between 25 and 60 years were included as cases and age-related healthy individuals as controls. Participants on any psychotropic medications, neurodegenerative disorders, or on chemotherapy were excluded. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRDS-17) was used for recording depressive symptoms. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) was used for data analysis. The frequency was calculated for descriptive statistics and depression scores (HRDS-17). A significance level of 0.05 was considered. Results A total of 272 patients were divided into two groups, with 136 patients in the group with diabetes and 136 participants in the control group. The mean age among people with diabetes was 55.13±9.10 years and among non-diabetics was 43.25±12.97 years (p<0.001). The mean duration of illness in people with diabetes was 8.51±7.57 years and in non-diabetics, it was 6.73±4.42 years (p=0.018). The mean social rating in people with diabetes was 164.0±155.60 and in non-diabetics, it was 124.75±99.02 (p=0.014). Insomnia, both in the early and middle part of the night affecting work activities, hypochondriasis, and loss of weight, was significantly present among diabetics as compared to controls (p<0.05). Conclusion Most diabetics reported a significant effect on the quality of life based on social rating and health-care expenditure. They experienced depressive symptoms more frequently than non-diabetics. Insomnia in the middle of the night affected work and activities; hypochondriasis and weight loss were found to be substantially higher among patients with diabetes than in controls.