Comparison of the impact of type 1 and type 2 diabetes on quality of life of families of patients: A UK cross‐sectional study.

Shah, Rubina; Finlay, Andrew Y.; Ali, Faraz M.; Otwombe, Kennedy; Nixon, Stuart J.; George, Lindsay; Evans, Marc; Ingram, John R.; Salek, Sam

Aim: To measure the impact of type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (T1D and T2D) on the QoL of a person's family members/partner and assess if there is any difference in family impact. Methods: A cross‐sectional study, recruited online through patient support groups, involved UK family members/partners of people with diabetes completing the Family Reported Outcome Measure‐16 (FROM‐16). Results: Two hundred and sixty‐one family members/partners (mean age = 57.9 years, SD = 13.8; females = 68.2%) of people with diabetes (mean age = 57.7, SD = 20.6; females = 38.3%; T1D n = 100; T2D n = 161) completed the FROM‐16. The overall FROM‐16 mean score was 10.47, SD = 7.8, suggesting a moderate effect on the QoL of family members of people with diabetes. A quarter (24.5%) of family members experienced a 'very large effect' or 'extremely large effect' on their QoL. The family impact of T1D (mean FROM‐16 = 12.61, SD = 7.9) was greater than that of T2D (mean = 9.15, SD = 7.5, p < 0.01), with being 'female' and 'parents of children and adolescents' rendered as significant predictors of greater impact. Family members of T2D had a lower risk of experiencing a high family impact (FROM‐16 score >16) compared with T1D (RR 0.561, 95% CI 0.371–0.849). Conclusions: Compared to T2D, family members of T1D experience a greater impact on their QoL, particularly those caring for children and adolescents. These findings have clinical and resource implications, indicating a need to assess this impact as a part of routine diabetes care to support impacted family members. The FROM‐16 could assess this impact in routine practice and further facilitate referral of family members to appropriate support services.

TYPE 1 diabetes; TYPE 2 diabetes; PEOPLE with diabetes; PATIENTS' families; SUPPORT groups

Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, 2025, Vol 27, Issue 2, p652

1462-8902

Academic Journal

10.1111/dom.16058