[Quality of life in patients with diabetes].

Quality of life (QoL) has been recognized as an important health outcome in treatment of chronic diseases. Quality of life is measured as perceived physical and social functioning, and mental wellbeing. Reviews of research findings indicate that QoL may be adversely affected by diabetes. Although assessing QoL is methodologically complex, valid and reliable tools are available and can be used with diabetes patients. Measurement of quality of life as part of a monitoring procedure should be routinely included in clinical practice and clinical research in the field of diabetes care.