Social support and diabetes distress among adults with type 2 diabetes covered by Alabama Medicaid

Diabetes distress affects approximately 36% of adults with diabetes and is associated with worse diabetes self-management and poor glycaemic control. We characterized participants' diabetes distress and studied the relationship between social support and diabetes distress.

In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed a population-based sample of adults with type 2 diabetes covered by Alabama Medicaid. We used the Diabetes Distress Scale assessing emotional burden, physician-related, regimen-related and interpersonal distress. We assessed participants' level of diabetes-specific social support and satisfaction with this support, categorized as low or moderate-high. We performed multivariable logistic regression of diabetes distress by level of and satisfaction with social support, adjusting for demographics, disease severity, self-efficacy and depressive symptoms.

In all, 1147 individuals participated; 73% were women, 41% White, 58% Black and 3% Hispanic. Low level of or satisfaction with social support was reported by 11% of participants; 7% of participants had severe diabetes distress. Participants with low satisfaction with social support were statistically significantly more likely to have severe diabetes distress than those with moderate-high satisfaction, adjusted odds ratio 2.43 (95% CI 1.30, 4.54).

Interventions addressing diabetes distress in adults with type 2 diabetes may benefit from a focus on improving diabetes-specific social support.