About Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS)

This questionnaire is 17 questions long and covers the Legacy Diabetes Distress Scale

DIRECTIONS: Living with diabetes can be tough. Listed below are a variety of distressing things that many people with 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 circling the appropriate number. For example, if you feel that a particular item was not a problem for you over the past month, you would circle "1". If it was very tough for you over the past month, you might circle "6".

Not a Problem

A Slight Problem

A Moderate Problem

Somewhat Serious Problem

A Serious Problem

A Very Serious Problem

1. Feeling that diabetes is taking up too much of my mental and physical energy every day.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

2. Feeling that my doctor doesn't know enough about diabetes and diabetes care.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

3. Not feeling confident in my day-to-day ability to manage diabetes.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

4. Feeling angry, scared and/or depressed when I think about living with diabetes.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

5. Feeling that my doctor doesn't give me clear enough directions on how to manage my diabetes.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

6. Feeling that I am not testing my blood sugars frequently enough.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

7. Feeling that I will end up with serious long-term complications, no matter what I do.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

8. Feeling that I am often failing with my diabetes routine.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

9. Feeling that friends or family are not supportive enough of self-care efforts (e.g. planning activities that conflict with my schedule, encouraging me to eat the "wrong" foods).

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

10. Feeling that diabetes controls my life.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

11. Feeling that my doctor doesn't take my concerns seriously enough.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

12. Feeling that I am not sticking closely enough to a good meal plan.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

13. Feeling that friends or family don't appreciate how difficult living with diabetes can be.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

14. Feeling overwhelmed by the demands of living with diabetes.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

15. Feeling that I don't have a doctor who I can see regularly enough about my diabetes.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

16. Not feeling motivated to keep up my diabetes self management.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

17. Feeling that friends or family don't give me the emotional support that I would like.

1Not a Problem

2A Slight Problem

3A Moderate Problem

4Somewhat Serious Problem

5A Serious Problem

6A Very Serious Problem

Links

Contact Us

Diabetes Distress Assessment and Resource Center
Behavioral Diabetes Institute
5230 Carroll Canyon Rd Ste. 208
San Diego, CA 92121

(858) 336-8693
info@behavioraldiabetes.org