Quality of life assessment in diabetes: A preliminary study of young adults in Liverpool

A quality of life questionnaire was completed by 38 young adults with insulin‐dependent diabetes (IDDM) from Liverpool. Ages ranged from 15‐26 years and 18 were male. The questionnaire explored three domains: The impact of diabetes, concerns about the effects of diabetes, and personal satisfaction. Thirty‐eight non‐diabetic subjects aged 15‐27 years, 12 male, also completed non‐diabetic related questions on personal satisfaction, health and social/vocational worries. The perceived quality of life in these young adults with IDDM was not related to glycaemic control (HbA₁), or gender. The Liverpool patients with diabetes reported significantly more personal satisfaction than the non‐diabetic males. Comparing the questionnaire scores with published data on IDDM patients from the USA, young adults have a similar perceived quality of life to adolescents in the USA with a trend towards a better perceived quality of life than older adults in the USA. These preliminary findings merit further investigation.