Material need support interventions for diabetes prevention and control: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Diabetes Management

Background:

• Unmet material needs (food insecurity, housing instability) are linked to higher diabetes risk and poorer patient outcomes.
• Healthcare systems face increasing accountability for outcomes influenced by social determinants of health.
• Traditional medical interventions often do not address these fundamental social needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on interventions addressing material needs (income, food, housing).
• To propose a conceptual model linking unmet needs to diabetes outcomes.
• To offer recommendations for future research on interventions for social determinants of health.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of interventions providing material support.
• Development of a conceptual model illustrating the relationship between unmet needs and diabetes.
• Synthesis of findings to inform future research directions.

Main Results:

• Interventions providing material support show potential for addressing social determinants of health in diabetes care.
• A conceptual model highlights pathways through which unmet needs impact diabetes.
• Gaps in current research indicate a need for more robust interventional studies.

Conclusions:

• Addressing unmet material needs is essential for effective diabetes management and health equity.
• Healthcare delivery organizations should integrate social needs interventions into care models.
• Further research is needed to rigorously evaluate the impact of material support interventions on diabetes outcomes.