Diabetes self-management and glycemic control: The role of autonomy support from informal health supporters.

Abstract

Objective: Effective diabetes self-management can prevent long-term health complications but is often complex and difficult to achieve. Health care professionals' support for patients' autonomy (autonomy support) in managing their diabetes contributes to better diabetes self-care and glycemic control. Most adults with diabetes also receive self-management support from informal health supporters. Yet, the role of autonomy support from these informal health supporters has not been explored. We examined patients' perceived autonomy support from their main health supporter (family member or friend) in relation to their diabetes distress, self-efficacy, selfmonitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), medication adherence, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Methods: 326 Veterans with type 2 diabetes at high risk for complications, who identified a main health supporter, were surveyed using self-report measures of social support, diabetes distress, self-efficacy, and self-care. HbA1c and prescription fill data were extracted from VA electronic records for the 12-months before and after the survey. Linear regression and linear mixed models examined the associations of autonomy support with diabetes distress, self-efficacy, SMBG, medication adherence, and glycemic control, controlling for participant-supporter relationship characteristics and patient-factors.

Clinical and Socio-demographic Determinants of Self-care Maintenance, Monitoring and Management in US Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…Moreover, improvements in behavior through enhanced self-efficacy may generalize to behaviors that were not initially targeted (Bandura, 1977). Future interventions may focus on providing autonomy support as a means of improving self-efficacy (Lee et al, 2019). Successful performance of a behavior is positively correlated with improved self-efficacy (Glanz et al, 2014).…”

Educational program to promote the self-care of people with diabetes mellitus

“…The professional should know how to recognize and to respect the diabetic person's right to be the protagonist of their care plan, which can include or not the non-adherence to proposed recommendations (29-32), the adoption of pedagogical resources using principles of participatory education, emancipating and co-responsible for stimulating the adoption of self-care (6,10,34). This aspect reinforces the need and the challenge of keeping updates, exchanges of experiences and knowledge among team members in the area of diabetes education (31,32).…”

A percepção do corpo e o autocuidado em sujeitos com diabetes mellitus 2: uma abordagem fenomenológica

“…A questão é como conjugar a autonomia e o gerenciamento da diabetes. Para o manejo do controle glicêmico, é muito importante o fortalecimento da autonomia do paciente para a qual é essencial o suporte dos profissionais, mas igualmente a ajuda do sistema informal dos familiares e amigos (LEE et al, 2019).…”