Pre-existing diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk for high PTSD symptom levels: Results of a prospective population-based study

Aim: Longitudinal studies indicate that PTSD increases the risk of developing Diabetes Mellitus (DM). However, the extent to which pre-existing DM elevates the risk of PTSD and anxiety and depression symptomatology (ADS) following Potentially Traumatic Events (PTEs) remains largely unexplored. The present study aims to examine this risk.

Methods: Data were extracted from the Longitudinal Core Study on Health and the VICTIMS study conducted with the Dutch population-based LISS panel. First, adult respondents were selected who were exposed to PTEs in the past 12 months (between T2 and T3; n = 1339). A series of (stepwise) multivariate logistic regression analyses (MLRAs) were conducted with ADS and high PTSD-symptom levels (PTSS) at T3 as dependent variables. Physician-diagnosed pre-existing DM/hyperglycaemia at T1 (3 months before T2) and potential confounders, such as pre-existing anxiety and depression-symptomatology and lack of support at T2 were entered as predictors. Control MLRAs were conducted with physician-diagnosed cardiac or vascular disease problems instead of DM as predictor.

Results: By PTEs affected respondents with pre-existing DM (n = 62) compared to those without, were significantly more at risk of moderate-severe ADS (aOR = 2.26) and high PTSD symptom levels (aOR = 2.08) at T3. Pre-existing cardiac or vascular disease problems were not significantly associated with ADS and PTSS at T3.

Conclusion: After PTEs adults with pre-existing DM are more at risk for PTSD and moderate-severe ADS than those without. Findings suggest that the relationship between DM on the one hand and PTSD and ADS on the other hand, is bi-directional.