Association between personality traits and glycemic control after inpatient diabetes education.

Aims: The longitudinal effect of personality traits on glycemic control is unclear. This prospective observational study explored the relationship between personality traits and glycemic control in patients with uncontrolled diabetes after inpatient diabetes education.

Methods: Patients with diabetes mellitus (HbA1c ≥ 7.5%, measured by high-performance liquid chromatography) who received inpatient diabetes education were scored on the Big Five personality traits: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Multiple linear analysis was used to determine whether any personality traits were independently associated with HbA1c on admission and HbA1c change from admission to 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge.

Results: One hundred seventeen participants (mean age 60.4 ± 14.5 years; 59.0% male) were enrolled. HbA1c values on admission and 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge were 10.2 ± 2.1%, 8.3 ± 1.4%, 7.6 ± 1.4%, and 7.7 ± 1.5%, respectively. Multiple linear analysis showed that no personality traits were associated with HbA1c on admission. Neuroticism was negatively associated with the HbA1c change from admission to 3 months (β = -0.192,  = 0.025) and 6 months after discharge (β = -0.164,  = 0.043).

Conclusions: Neuroticism was associated with good long-term glycemic control after inpatient diabetes education.