Psychological Stress s a Risk Factor for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in College Students Kukiat TUDPOR 1 , Chatcharida SAISAWAI, Sasina KAEWPHO and Amaraporn JITSEEDA Faculty of Public Health, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand Abstract Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is multifactorial disease. This cross- sectional study was aimed to investigate relationship between stress and risk for T2DM in college students. Seven-hundred participants (350 T2DM risk and 350 non-T2DM risk groups). Stress index levels and heart rate variability (HRV) were respectively measured as primary and secondary outcomes. Results showed that both T2DM-risk and non-T2DM-risk groups had temporary stress, but the T2DM- risk group had significantly higher level of psychological stress (P < .001). For the HRV, the T2DM-risk group had significantly lower levels of parasympathetic proxies (lnHF, SDNN, and RMSSD) (P < .001). Chi-square ( 2 ) test showed significant correlation of the stressful state with T2DM risk ( 2 = 159.372, P < .001, odds ratio (OR) = 9.326). In conclusion, psychological stress is a risk factor for T2DM in college students. Early detection, monitoring, and treatments of psychological stress should be implemented in this group of population. Keywords Psychological stress, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Young adulthood 1. Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is major non-communicable disease worldwide [2]. According to Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for Diabetes 2017 of the Diabetes Association of Thailand, risk score checklist for T2DM in Thai people has been developed based on advancing age, masculinity, family history, body mass index (BMI), central obesity, and hypertension [1]. Young adults (18-26 years old) are in a critical period in life as they have to think about their future career paths and economic security [12]. Hence, they are prone to depression, and psychological stress [8]. However, their needs during this transitional period were not concerned. Psychological stress might cause T2DM via stress hormone-induced insulin insensitivity [7]. This study investigated relationship between psychological stress and T2DM risk in young adult individuals by using a novel non-invasive technology device for stress index measurement on a fingertip. 1 Corresponding Author: Kukiat Tudpor, Faculty of Public Health, Mahasarakham University, Kham Rieng, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham, Thailand 44150; E-mail: kukiat.t@msu.ac.th I pHealth 2021 B. Blobel and M. Giacomini (Eds.) © 2021 The authors and IOS Press. This article is published online with Open Access by IOS Press and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC 4.0). doi:10.3233/SHTI210619 296