Diabetes Distress Score
The PAID-5 is a validated 5-question screening tool for diabetes-related emotional distress - distinct from clinical depression and extremely common in people living with diabetes.
Educational estimator only - not medical advice.
Rate each item from 0 (Not a problem) to 4 (Serious problem). There are no right or wrong answers.
Feeling overwhelmed by the demands of living with diabetes
Feeling scared when I think about living with diabetes (worrying about low blood sugar)
Feeling discouraged with my diabetes treatment plan
Feeling that diabetes is taking up too much of my mental and physical energy
Feeling alone with my diabetes
Answer all 5 questions above to see your Diabetes Distress Score.
This tool uses the PAID-5 (Problem Areas In Diabetes, 5-item version) - a validated screening instrument developed specifically for diabetes-related emotional distress. It is widely used in clinical settings and diabetes education.
Score range: 0 - 20
Clinically significant distress: >= 8
Diabetes distress is not depression. It is a specific emotional response to the ongoing demands, fears, and frustrations of managing diabetes - and it affects up to 45% of people with diabetes at some point. It is extremely common, underdiagnosed, and highly treatable.
Common sources of distress include: fear of hypoglycaemia, burnout from constant self-management, worry about complications, and feeling misunderstood by others. Identifying distress is the first step toward support.
Living with diabetes affects more than blood sugar - it affects how you feel every day. Chapter 3 of Figuring Out Diabetes: Starter and Chapter 14 of FOD: Caregivers address the psychological and emotional dimensions of diabetes that are often overlooked.
FOD Starter Ch 3 + Caregivers Ch 14This screening tool is for educational and informational purposes only. A PAID-5 score indicating significant distress does not constitute a clinical diagnosis. If you are experiencing significant emotional distress, depression, anxiety, or thoughts of self-harm, please reach out to your healthcare provider, a mental health professional, or a crisis support service. You are not alone.