Personality traits as predictors of good diabetic control

To identify personality characteristics that might contribute to overall good control of type I diabetes mellitus, we used a biological correlate of control, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c values, as a means of selecting patients. Patients with evidence of good control (HbA1c less than 7.5%) were compared with patients with evidence of poor control (HbA1c greater than 10.4%). All patients were administered the Personality Research Form E. Need for achievement and a socially desirable response style were associated with good glycemic control. This finding is placed in the context of the complexity of health care behaviors required for adequate self-management.