Pathways between food insecurity and glycaemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes

Food insecurity is reported in approximately 28 % of individuals with diabetes in the USA and is associated with poor glycaemic and lipid control. The present study aimed to understand the direct and indirect pathways through which food insecurity impacts glycaemic control in individuals with diabetes.Design/Setting/SubjectsAdults (n 615) with type 2 diabetes completed validated questionnaires after recruitment from two primary care clinics. Structural equation modelling was used to investigate mechanisms through which food insecurity influences diabetes self-care behaviours and glycaemic control, including investigation into possible direct and indirect effects of perceived stress and social support.

The final model showed that higher food insecurity was directly significantly related to increased stress (r=0·14, P<0·001) and increased glycosylated Hb (r=0·66, P=0·03). Higher stress was significantly related to poorer self-care (r=-0·54, P<0·001) and lower social support (r=-0·41, P<0·001). There was no significant direct association between food insecurity and self-care, or between perceived stress and glycaemic control.

Food insecurity had both a direct effect on glycaemic control and an indirect effect on self-care through stress. The indirect pathway suggests that efforts to address stress may influence the ability of individuals to perform diabetes self-care behaviours. The direct effect on glycaemic control suggests that pathways independent of self-care behaviours may also be necessary to improve diabetes outcomes. Results from the study suggest a multipronged approach is necessary to address food insecurity in individuals with diabetes.