Barriers to Type 2 Diabetes Management in Australian Gay Cisgender Men: First National Study

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Psychosocial factors significantly impact diabetes care outcomes.
• Limited research exists on how sexual orientation affects type 2 diabetes (T2D) management in Australian gay men.
• This gap leads to a lack of awareness among healthcare providers and individuals with diabetes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how sexual orientation influences the experience and management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Australian gay men.
• To identify barriers faced by gay men in managing their T2D within the healthcare system.
• To inform the development of tailored interventions for this population.

Main Methods:

• Sequential mixed-methods design utilizing electronic surveys and in-depth interviews.
• Survey phase: 83 gay men with T2D and 82 without T2D explored community perceptions.
• Interview phase: 12 in-depth interviews with gay men with T2D analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Twenty-one percent of participants had not disclosed their sexual orientation to their doctor, highlighting a significant barrier.
• Four themes emerged: discomfort around sexual orientation and diabetes, navigating uncomfortable patient-provider conversations, and the unknown connection between sexuality and diabetes.
• These themes reduce the ability of gay men to fully engage in healthcare consultations.

Conclusions:

• Gay men with T2D encounter identity-related barriers in healthcare settings.
• Healthcare providers and diabetes educators require tailored approaches to address these barriers.
• Interventions addressing sexual orientation can potentially reduce diabetes-related complications.