Depressive Symptoms and Quality of Life in Adolescents With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE The study objective was to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and relationships to quality of life and demographics in the Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY) study's large, ethnically diverse youth with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 704 youth with type 2 diabetes <2 years' duration, aged 10-17 years, and BMI ≥85th percentile completed depressive symptoms and quality of life measures. RESULTS Some 14.8% reported clinically significant depressive symptoms, and older girls had significantly higher rates than older boys. CONCLUSIONS Rates of significant depressive symptoms were similar to those of healthy adolescents and lower than those of teens with type 1 diabetes. Elevated depressive symptoms, particularly in older girls, suggest clinicians assess vulnerability.