Food and Housing Insecurity is Associated with Diabetes Distress, Depression, Anxiety, and Self-Management Behaviors in Veterans with Type-2 Diabetes

In patients with diabetes, food and housing insecurity are associated with diabetes distress, anxiety, depression, and poorer self-management, which are associated with worse glycemic control. Diabetes distress describes the emotional experience of living with and self-managing diabetes. In a sample of 218 veterans with diabetes distress, veterans with diabetes and food and/or housing insecurity were younger and more likely to be unmarried, Black, Hispanic, and low-income. Food and/or housing insecurity was associated with greater diabetes distress, depression, anxiety, less frequent checking of blood sugars, and more physical activity. Healthcare systems should consider the impact of unmet social needs on their patients' ability to manage chronic diseases.