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Illness-related diabetes social support and glycemic control among middle aged and older adults: Gender Differences
Background: Prior research has shown that the association between social support and improved diabetes outcomes is stronger for illness-related diabetes social support (IRDSS) compared to general social support. Females are also known to have greater difficulties in performing certain diabetes self-care activities compared to males. Therefore, this study investigates the association between IRDSS and glycemic control (GC) by gender among a sample of middle aged and older adults.
Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 914 adults with diabetes who completed the Health and Retirement Study 2003 Mail Survey on Diabetes. IRDSS was measured as low and high support from family or friends in performing diabetes self-care activities such as following meal plan, taking medication, taking care of one's feet, getting enough physical activity, testing blood glucose, going to the doctor or nurse, keeping one's weight under control and handling feeling about diabetes. GC was measured as poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 8.0%) and good glycemic control (HbA1c < 8.0%). Gender-specific multivariable logisitic regression models were used to examine the independent association between IRDSS and GC after controlling for socio-demographic (age, sex, race/ethnicity, educational status, annual household income, marital status, health insurance status), lifestyle (current smoking status, vigorous physical activity status) and clinical (diabetes treatment, body mass index, hypertension status, depressive symptoms) characteristics.
Results: About half of the sample was female (49.8%). Among females, there was a significant association between IRDSS and GC (OR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.43, 3.93), but no significant association was observed among males.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that the influence of IRDSS on GC varies by gender. Further studies should aim at identifying factors that contribute to gender differences as it relates to the impact of social support.
Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and preventionEpidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Discuss gender differences the association between illness-related diabetes social support and glycemic control.
Keyword(s): Diabetes, Gender
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked on this research as part of my Master's thesis and I have successfully defended my thesis. As a result, I was awarded an MSPH in Epidemiology. My research interests include health disparities in diabetes management and racial and gender differences in cardiovascular disease.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.