Are people with diabetes getting the support they need? Deficits between support desired and received from family and friends relates to poorer health

Objective: To determine the mismatch of desired support versus support received and to evaluate the impact of these mismatches on health outcomes of people with diabetes.

Methods: This cross-sectional study is a secondary data analysis of medical record and survey data of participants with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes from a diabetes care and education program. Biophysical metrics included HbA1c, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and high- and low-density lipoproteins. Psychosocial and self-care survey outcomes included diabetes distress, diabetes self-care, and diabetes self-efficacy. Support mismatch was a difference score (support desired-support received). Descriptive statistics were computed for demographics, clinical characteristics, and primary outcomes. Multiple linear regressions were computed.

Results: The percentage of participants experiencing support mismatch (surplus/deficits) across six domains was: 15%/27% (foot care), 22%/24% (take medicine), 24%/23% (test blood sugar), 21%/29% (physical activity), and 18%/34% (follow meal plan). Greater support deficits were associated with higher triglyceride levels, increased diabetes distress, and lower diabetes self-efficacy.

Conclusions: Findings indicate that greater support deficits can be a risk factor for some poorer physical and psychosocial health outcomes.

Practice implications: Interventions to facilitate functional supportive behaviors are an avenue for future research and clinical practice.