Longitudinal Associations Between Illness Perceptions and Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Cross-sectional studies link illness perceptions to glycemic control in type 2 diabetes (T2D).
• Prospective evidence is limited and shows inconsistent findings.
• Understanding factors influencing T2D management is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if baseline illness perceptions predict glycemic control (HbA1c) over 6-12 months in T2D patients.
• To examine if illness perceptions differ between patients who complete follow-up HbA1c tests and those who do not.

Main Methods:

• 115 individuals with T2D completed baseline assessments of demographics, clinical data, and illness perceptions.
• HbA1c levels were measured at baseline and 12 months.
• Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyzed the predictive value of illness perceptions on HbA1c, controlling for covariates.

Main Results:

• Perceived effectiveness of weight management was linked to lower follow-up HbA1c in univariate analysis (rho = -0.25, p = 0.04).
• Adjusted regression revealed baseline HbA1c as the sole significant predictor of longitudinal HbA1c (β = 0.51, p < 0.001).
• No significant differences in baseline illness perceptions were found between patients who completed follow-up HbA1c tests and those who did not (p > 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Baseline illness perceptions did not predict longitudinal HbA1c levels in adjusted analyses.
• Illness perceptions did not influence the completion of follow-up HbA1c tests.
• Temporal variability in HbA1c and potential barriers to accessing blood tests may explain these findings.