How Much Sugar Helps Medicine Go Down? Social Exchanges and Diabetes Management among Older Adults

• In Event: 590 - Regular Session. Health and Well-Being

Abstract

The number of people in the United States diagnosed with diabetes increases each year, and a detailed understanding of how to best manage this disease is instrumental in preserving diabetics' quality of life. This study examines the influence that social exchanges have on health in order to argue for an integrated diabetes care model that includes social factors. I use two waves of data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N=2,247) to test the relationship between social support and social strain from partners, family members, and friends on managing diabetes. The findings show that more support from family members results in better diabetes management. However, detrimental effects from spouse support and family strain predict greater odds of poor diabetes management. These results indicate a more complex relationship beyond support benefitting management and strain preventing it. Instead, evidence for the ‘nagging as caring’ hypothesis and overprotection from social support suggest that diabetics’ social interactions impact their disease management in varied ways that are important for doctors and patients to understand and incorporate into successful diabetes care.

Author

• Shannon Shen, Michigan State University