OBJECTIVES: Diabetes is associated with many complications and comorbidities and it demands people to make a number of lifestyle changes. For these reasons, diabetes can have a major negative impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to assess the impact of diabetes on the HRQoL of life of women in mid to later life.

METHODS: Data were for 13,714 women (born in 1946-51) from the Australian Longitudinal Study on women’s Health, who completed three-yearly surveys from 1996 to 2016. Diabetes cases were ascertained using survey and linked Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Medicare Benefits Schedule, hospital admission, and National Death Index data. Mean scores of the Short Form 36 (SF-36) domains were calculated and plotted by diabetes status over time. Linear mixed model was used to examine the longitudinal differences in the mean SF-36 domain scores between women with and without diabetes.

RESULTS: Women with diabetes had lower scores on all domains of the SF-36 for the entire period of observation, compared to women without diabetes. The SF-36 score differences were greatest for general health [-7.39, 95% confidence interval (CI): -8.46, -6.32] followed by physical functioning, (-4.35, 95% CI: -5.28,-3.42). While women with diabetes identified only from survey had consistently higher SF-36 domain scores than women identified in linked data; those who were in the hospital data had the lowest scores (P<0.0001). For all groups, there were significant reductions in the SF-36 domain scores between consecutive surveys except for mental health.

CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes was associated with a significant reduction in HRQoL of the women. The findings warrant a need for interventions to improve the HRQoL women with diabetes.