2280-PUB: Impact of Diabetes-Related Family and Social Discomfort on Diabetes Self-Management (DSM)

Abstract

Background: DSM is key to diabetes care and critical for optimal outcomes. Understanding whether diabetes related discomfort with family or friends impacts DSM may have important implications for patient care. Methods: Data from 1,901 adults from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) 2003 diabetes cohort was used. The outcome, DSM behaviors included medication adherence, diet, and blood sugar testing. The primary independent variable was perceived family or social discomfort with diabetes. Survey logistic regression models tested the likelihood of performing recommended DSM behaviors, and whether perceived family or social discomfort with diabetes was associated with DSM behaviors. The model controlled for age, gender, race, education, and marital status. Results: Mean age of the population was 70 years. Overall, 21% reported experiencing diabetes related discomfort with family or friends. Compared to those who did not report any diabetes related discomfort with family or friends, reporting discomfort was related to higher odds of medication non-adherence (OR 2.33; CI 1.56-3.47). Ethnic minorities were more likely to be non-adherent to medications when reporting experiences of family discomfort compared to Whites (OR 2.36; CI 1.50-3.73). Reporting discomfort was also significantly related higher odds of diet non-adherence for fruits/vegetables (OR 1.72; CI 1.20-2.48). Eating high fat foods, junk food, and testing blood sugar were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Patients with diabetes who report diabetes discomfort in their family and social relationships were more likely to be non-adherent to medications and more likely to be non-adherent to diet recommendations for fruits/vegetables. These results suggest that unique barriers to DSM behaviors may exist as a result of familial and social pressures related to living with diabetes, particularly for minority populations, necessitating tailored diabetes self-management education, support, and interventions. Disclosure J.A. Campbell: None. E. Garacci: None. R.J. Walker: None. L.E. Egede: Consultant; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc. Research Support; Self; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Funding National Institutes of Health; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases