While social support has been linked to levels of glycemia, the assumed intervening mechanisms through which social support has an effect remain unclear. Individuals with diabetes have specific social needs such as day-to-day management of the disease in order to maintain good glycemic control and thus minimize the potential complications from the disease. How social support influences self-management is not well understood. To address these questions, we examined the direct as well as the interaction effects of social support and health behaviors on glycemia. Using data from the Third National Health Nutrition and Examination Survey (n=1462) the hypothesis that health behaviors and social support have an effect of glycemic control is addressed. Results from Ordinary Least Squares models indicate that being older (b=-0.12, p<0.001), African American (b=0.11, p<0.001), Mexican American (b=0.08, p<0.05), having insurance (b=-0.06, p<0.04), or a longer duration of the disease (b=0.09, p<0.01) have direct effects on levels of glycemia. Further analyses will look at race and health behavior interaction as well as disease specific (type 1 and type 2) differences. Possible reasons for the findings, limitations of the study, and directions for future research are discussed.
Learning Objectives: 1. Define health behaviors that are associated with glucose control. 2. Identify the association between health behaviors and social support on glucose control. 3. Discuss the importance of the understanding of the mechanisms through which health behaviors and social support have an effect on glycemia.
Keywords: Diabetes, Health Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.