Depression, anxiety symptoms may be common in T1D

National survey data show a greater mental health symptom burden among adults with type 1 diabetes vs. those with type 2 diabetes or no diabetes.

By
Andrea Surnit
October 19, 2026
4 min

MDSpire News

Overview

In a survey analysis of 58,106 US adults, moderate or severe depressive symptoms were reported by 17% of adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D), and moderate or severe anxiety symptoms by 16%. Both estimates were higher than those among adults with type 2 diabetes or no diabetes; the study authors noted limitations including self-reported diabetes classification and a small T1D subgroup.

Background

Diabetes management is a lifelong responsibility that can affect mental health and diabetes outcomes, including glycemic stability and complications. The supplied study context notes associations between depression and anxiety in people with diabetes and poorer glycemic control and increased complication risk. The 2026 American Diabetes Association Standards of Care call for routine psychosocial screening and follow-up, including screening for depression and anxiety with validated instruments. The study assessed recent symptoms, not diagnoses established through clinical interviews.

Data Highlights

Measure	Type 1 diabetes	Type 2 diabetes	No diabetes
Participants in survey analysis	326	5,802	51,978
Moderate or severe depressive symptoms	17%	12%	7%
Moderate or severe anxiety symptoms	16%	9%	6%
Severe depressive symptoms	10%	5%	3%
Severe anxiety symptoms	8%	4%	3%
Moderate or severe depression, female vs male participants	22% vs 11%	—
Moderate or severe anxiety, female vs male participants	19% vs 13%	—

Data were from the 2019 and 2022 National Health Interview Survey. Diabetes classification was based on self-reported diagnosis and current insulin use. Moderate symptoms were defined as scores of 10–14 and severe symptoms as scores of 15 or higher on the PHQ-8 or GAD-7.

Key Findings

Among adults with T1D, 17% reported moderate or severe depressive symptoms, compared with 12% of adults with type 2 diabetes and 7% of adults without diabetes; the reported differences were statistically significant.
Moderate or severe generalized anxiety symptoms were reported by 16% of adults with T1D, 9% with type 2 diabetes, and 6% without diabetes; the reported differences were statistically significant.
Severe depressive symptoms affected 10% of adults with T1D, versus 5% with type 2 diabetes and 3% without diabetes. Severe anxiety symptoms affected 8%, 4%, and 3%, respectively.
Within the T1D group, moderate or severe anxiety symptoms were most prevalent among adults aged 18–44 years (22%); depressive symptoms were most prevalent among those aged 45–64 years (20%).
Among adults with T1D and less than a high school education, 24% reported moderate or severe depressive symptoms and 32% reported moderate or severe anxiety symptoms. Corresponding estimates for those with a college education or higher were 16% and 13%.
The study authors cautioned that self-reported diabetes subtype could result in misclassification, the T1D sample limited precision of subgroup estimates, and symptom measures covering the prior 2 weeks were not confirmed by clinical interviews. The survey also did not assess diabetes-specific psychosocial burdens.

Clinical Implications

The 2026 ADA Standards of Care call for routine psychosocial screening and follow-up, including validated screening for depression and anxiety and referral to qualified behavioral health professionals when needed. The study authors stated that better mental health screening, especially in high-risk populations, is essential for improving diabetes management and quality of life.

Conclusion

In this US survey analysis, adults with T1D reported moderate or severe depressive and anxiety symptoms more often than adults with type 2 diabetes or no diabetes. The estimates describe self-reported symptoms and should be interpreted in light of the study's stated measurement and sampling limitations.