FAMILY SUPPORT IN THE CARE OF PEOPLE WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CONTROL OF BLOOD SUGAR

Abstract

Family plays a key role in supporting the self-care management of people with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The perceptions of support of the people with T2DM and their carer and its associated factors have not yet been explored. This study aimed to examine the perceptions of the people with T2DM and their carers and factors associated with family support and glycaemic control. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with 608 people with T2DM and their carers. Two sets of self-administered questionnaires were used. The participants' medical records were reviewed. Family support was explored from both the people with T2DM and their carers and then compared on a case-by-case basis. The response rate of the T2DM participants was 79.6% (n = 242). In all, 160 (66.1%) participants had poor glycaemic control, and 85 (38.3%) participants had family support. Having family support was not associated with good glycaemic control but poor self-care behavior (p = 0.003). The response rate of the carers was 44.4%. There were differences in perceptions of aspects of family support between the participants and their carers on a case-by-case basis, including problem-solving (p = 0.008), roles (p < 0.001), and affective responses (p = 0.036). The novel results of this study are the differences in perceptions of family support between people with T2DM and their carers, which may explain the non-association between family support and good glycaemic control. This highlights the need to explore the extent of support people with T2DM need regarding their self-care management from their families.