ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic condition estimated to affect over 400 million persons worldwide. This chapter includes the following sections: first, a description of type 1 and type 2 diabetes that includes descriptive epidemiology, diabetes-related short- and long-term complications, and aspects of treatment with an emphasis on self-care. Next, conceptual models for the associations between psychosocial factors and diabetes mellitus are described. This is followed by a discussion of the psychological factors putatively involved in the aetiology of diabetes and its complications, and an examination of the impact of diabetes on emotional well-being. The chapter concludes by summarizing and discussing evidence from randomized controlled trials regarding the effectiveness of treatments for depression in diabetes.
