Abstract: Objective To analyze the stigma of youth patients with type 2 diabetes and its influencing factors. Methods A convenient sampling method was used to select 18-40 year-old patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing diagnosis and treatment in threc hospital areas of a sanatorium in Hangzhou from June 2018 to June 2021 as the study subjects to evaluate their stigma （using the DSAS-2 scale）. The descriptive analysis method was used to analyze their stigma, and univariate and multivariate analysis methods were used to analyze the factors affecting their stigma. Results A total of 358 youth patients with type 2 diabetes completed the survey, with an age of 18-40 years, an average age of （31.12 ± 3.32） years, a BMI of 17.6-33.72 kg/m², and an average BMI of （23.67 ± 3.40） kg/m². The proportion of patients with diabetes duration less than 10 months was higher, accounting for 82.17%. The total score of DSAS-2 was （58.55 ± 14.69） points. The scores of the three dimensions from high to low were self-humiliation, blame and judgment, and differential treatment, which were （21.35 ± 7.75）, （19.44 ± 6.20） and （17.76 ± 5.83） points, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the course of diabetes （β’=- 0.251）, combined with other chronic diseases （β’= 0.360）, family history of diabetes （β’= 0.295）, diabetes complications （β’= 0.611）, and insulin injection therapy （β’= 1.049） were the influencing factors of the stigma in youth patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusion Youth patients with type 2 diabetes have a high level of stigma. Several factors can influence the stigma in youth patients with type 2 diabetes. For the controllable factors, corresponding intervention is needed.

Key words: Type 2 diabetes, Stigma, Youth, Metabolic diseases, Emotional reaction