Work

Glycemic control among Latinos with type 2 diabetes: The role of social-environmental support resources.

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Although active diabetes self-management is required to achieve glycemic control, adherence is poor among ethnic minorities, especially Latinos. Research shows that individuals who report greater social-environmental support resources for disease management manage their diabetes more effectively than those with fewer support resources. METHODS: Path analysis was conducted to investigate the value of a multiple-mediator model in explaining how support resources for disease management influence hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in a sample of 208 Latinos with Type 2 diabetes recruited from low-income serving community clinics in San Diego County. We hypothesized that the relationship between support resources for disease-management and HbA1c would be mediated by diabetes self-management and/or depression. RESULTS: Participants who perceived greater support resources for disease-management reported better diabetes self-management (β = .40, p < .001) and less depression (β = -.19, p < .01). In turn, better diabetes self-management and less depression were associated with tighter glycemic control (HbA1c; β = -.17, p < .05 and β = .15, p < .05, respectively). Once the indirect effects via diabetes self-management (95% CI [-.25; -.03]) and depression (95% CI [-.14; -.01]) were statistically controlled, the direct pathway from support resources to HbA1c was markedly reduced (p = .57). CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate the important connection that support resources for disease management can have with diabetes self-management, emotional well-being, and glycemic control among Latinos. Thus, programs targeting diabetes self-management and glycemic control in this population should consider culturally relevant, multilevel influences on health outcomes.

Source: Health Psychology

DOI: 10.1037/a0022850

Authors: Addie L. Fortmann, Linda C. Gallo, Athena Philis-Tsimikas

Institutions: San Diego State University, University of California San Diego, Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute

Language: English

Topic: Diabetes Management and Education

Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Center for Research Resources