ToolsCalculators
Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS17)
Rates emotional distress attributable to living with diabetes across four domains.
Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS17)
Feeling overwhelmed by the demands of managing diabetes
Feeling that diabetes takes up too much mental and physical energy every day
Feeling angry, scared, or depressed when thinking about living with diabetes
Feeling that diabetes controls my life
Feeling constantly worried about the future and the possibility of serious complications
Feeling that my doctor does not know enough about diabetes care
Feeling that my doctor does not give clear enough directions on managing my diabetes
Feeling that my doctor does not take my concerns seriously enough
Feeling that my doctor does not spend enough time with me at visits
Feeling that I am often failing with my diabetes routine
Feeling that I am not checking my blood sugar often enough
Feeling discouraged with my current diabetes treatment plan
Feeling that I am not sticking closely enough to a good meal plan
Feeling that I will end up with serious long-term complications no matter what I do
Feeling that friends or family are not supportive enough of my self-care efforts
Feeling that friends or family do not appreciate how difficult living with diabetes can be
Feeling that friends or family do not give me the emotional support I would like
Result1.00 (mean item score)
Corresponds to little or no distress.
- Emotional burden (mean)
- 1.00
- Physician-related distress (mean)
- 1.00
- Regimen-related distress (mean)
- 1.00
- Interpersonal distress (mean)
- 1.00
When to use
- Screening for and quantifying diabetes-specific emotional distress, distinct from generalized depression.
Formula
Total DDS score = mean of all 17 items (each rated 1-6). Subscale scores = mean of the items within that subscale (emotional burden, physician-related distress, regimen-related distress, interpersonal distress).
Pearls and pitfalls
- A mean item score is used (not a sum) so it stays on the original 1-6 scale.
- Distress is not the same construct as depression; DDS17 targets diabetes-specific burden.
References
- Polonsky WH, Fisher L, Earles J, et al. Assessing psychosocial distress in diabetes: development of the diabetes distress scale. Diabetes Care. 2005;28(3):626-631.
- Fisher L, Hessler DM, Polonsky WH, Mullan J. When is diabetes distress clinically meaningful? Establishing cut points for the diabetes distress scale. Diabetes Care. 2012;35(2):259-264.