Economic burden, financial stress, and cost-related coping among people with uncontrolled diabetes in the U.S

Granular information on material deprivation including financial and economic well-being among people with diabetes can better inform policy, practice and interventions to support diabetes management. The purpose of this study was to describe in-depth the state of economic burden, financial stress, and coping among people with high A1c. Data came from the 2019-2021 baseline assessment in an ongoing U.S. trial that addresses social determinants of health among people with diabetes and high A1c who report at least one financial burden or cost-related non-adherence (CRN) (n = 600). Mean age of participants was 53 years. Planning behaviors were the most common financial well-being behavior, while savings was least frequently endorsed. Nearly a quarter of participants report spending more than $300 per month out-of-pocket to manage all of their health conditions. Participants reported spending the most out-of-pocket on medications (52%), special foods (40%), doctor's visits (27%), and blood glucose supplies (22%). Along with health insurance, these were also the most cited as sources of financial stress and where assistance. Seventy-two percent reported high levels of financial stress. Maladaptive coping was evident through CRN, and less than half engaged in adaptive coping such as talking to a doctor about cost or using a resource to address their needs. Economic burden, financial stress, and cost-related coping are highly relevant constructs among people with diabetes and high A1cs. More evidence-generation is needed for diabetes self-management programs to address sources of financial stress, facilitate behaviors to enhance financial well-being, and address unmet social needs to alleviate economic burdens.