Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS) for Type 1

Approx. 3–4 minutes • No data is stored
T1DDS 3.10.14 © Lawrence Fisher & William Polonsky

Fisher L, Polonsky WH, Hessler DM, Masharani U, Blumer I, Peters AL, Strycker L, Bower V. Understanding the sources of diabetes distress in adults with type 1 diabetes J Diabetes Complications 2015 May-Jun;29(4):572-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2015.01.012. Epub 2015 Feb 7.

Living with type 1 diabetes can be tough. Listed below are a variety of distressing things that many people with type 1 diabetes experience. Thinking back over the past month, please indicate the degree to which each of the following may have been a problem for you by selecting the appropriate number.

This is not a diagnostic tool. Results are for informational purposes only and remain on your device.

1 = Not a problem 6 = A very serious problem

Your T1-DDS Summary Report Download PDF for better view

About Diabetes Distress

Diabetes distress refers to the emotional and psychological burden of living with diabetes. The specific areas assessed include:

  1. Powerlessness: Feeling overwhelmed or discouraged by the demands and uncertainties of diabetes management.
  2. Management Distress: Concerns about not managing diabetes as well as you should.
  3. Hypoglycemia Distress: Worries and fears about experiencing severe low blood sugar events.
  4. Negative Social Perceptions: Concerns about how diabetes affects how others see you.
  5. Eating Distress: Struggles with food choices and eating behaviors related to diabetes.
  6. Physician Distress: Concerns about the quality of care and communication with healthcare providers.
  7. Friend/Family Distress: Feeling that friends or family are too involved or not supportive enough.

What do the scores mean?

Your scores are averages for each category and are placed into one of three levels: little or no distress, moderate distress, or high distress.

A score of 2.0 or higher on any scale suggests significant diabetes distress.

Little or none (0 to 1.9)
Moderate DD (2.0 to 2.9)
High DD (3.0 and up)
Little or none
0 to 1.9
Moderate DD
2.0 to 2.9
High DD
3.0 and up

How You Scored On Each Item

Below are your responses to each question. These will help you identify very specific areas of diabetes distress.
Question Not a
Problem
(1)		 A Slight
Problem
(2)		 A Moderate
Problem
(3)		 Somewhat
Serious
Problem
(4)		 A Serious
Problem
(5)		 A Very
Serious
Problem
(6)

Where to go from here?

If your total or any subscale score is 2.0 or greater, it means that this part of your diabetes is significantly distressing you. Being significantly distressed about your diabetes can affect how you manage your diabetes day by day.

You may wish to bring this up with your diabetes provider, talk to others who have diabetes, your family and friends. There are many things that you can do to reduce your distress and to help you feel better.

It may be helpful to complete the DDS again in 3-4 weeks to see if things have changed.

Note: This assessment is not a substitute for comprehensive medical care or other important guidance you receive from your doctor or other healthcare team members. If you have any concerns about your health, please talk to your doctor.

Survey Attribution

Fisher L, Polonsky WH, Hessler DM, Masharani U, Blumer I, Peters AL, Strycker L, Bower V. Understanding the sources of diabetes distress in adults with type 1 diabetes. J Diabetes Complications 2015 May-Jun;29(4):572-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2015.01.012. Epub 2015 Feb 7.

T1DDS version 3.10.14 © Lawrence Fisher & William Polonsky. All rights reserved.