Social connectedness and diabetes self-management across the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Structural social connectedness, like living with others, helped diabetes patients manage their health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workplace connections, however, presented challenges to self-management strategies.
Area Of Science
- Social epidemiology
- Health psychology
- Behavioral medicine
Background
- Structural social connectedness, defined by social network structure and size, is crucial for health.
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted social structures, impacting individuals' ability to connect.
- Understanding these disruptions is vital for managing chronic conditions like diabetes.
Purpose Of The Study
- To investigate the influence of structural social connectedness on diabetes self-management during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To explore how home and workplace social networks affected patients' ability to manage their diabetes.
- To provide insights for healthcare providers on supporting patients' self-management.
Main Methods
- An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was employed.
- Quantitative data were collected through surveys of 54 diabetes patients in 2021.
- Qualitative data were gathered via interviews with 25 patients in 2022 to explain survey findings.
Main Results
- Home social connectedness was associated with overcoming pandemic-related self-management challenges.
- Individuals with higher home social connectedness demonstrated better diabetes self-management.
- Workplace social connectedness, while present, introduced structural barriers to effective self-management.
Conclusions
- Structural social connectedness significantly impacts diabetes self-management during public health crises.
- The interplay between home and workplace social structures influences patient outcomes.
- Clinicians should assess and leverage social connectedness to enhance diabetes self-management support.
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
Related Concept Videos
The therapy for diabetes aims to alleviate hyperglycemia-related symptoms, prevent acute metabolic decompensation, and reduce chronic end-organ complications. Glycemic control is evaluated through short-term (self-monitoring, continuous glucose monitoring) and long-term (A1c, fructosamine) metrics, enabling near real-time tracking of blood glucose levels and reflecting glycemic control over specific time frames.
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
For most patients, experiencing several weeks of polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and significant weight loss may indicate the presence of diabetes. Furthermore, adults displaying the phenotypic appearance of type 2 diabetes (particularly those who are obese and not initially insulin-requiring), may have islet cell autoantibodies, suggesting autoimmune-mediated β cell destruction and a diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). The categorization of glucose homeostasis is...
Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Chronic stress has been linked to both the onset and progression of serious health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Type 2 diabetes, a widespread chronic illness, is closely associated with obesity and insulin resistance, both of which often worsen under stress. Studies indicate that men experiencing high levels of chronic stress face a 45% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with minimal stress. Stress triggers physiological responses that elevate blood...
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production, insulin resistance, or both. The condition affects millions worldwide and can significantly impact their health and quality of life.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
A social support system is a structured network of personal relationships that provides assistance to individuals facing various challenges, offering a buffer against psychological and physical stressors. This network may consist of family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, or other community members who provide resources and companionship. Social support can take many forms, including advice, emotional comfort, practical help, and companionship. Research indicates that these networks can...