Perceived social support and treatment adherence in Chileans with Type 2 diabetes

This study aimed to determine if greater perceived social support was directly associated with better Type 2 diabetes (T2D) treatment adherence and if better T2D treatment adherence was related to lower HbA1c levels in Chilean adults with T2D. For this purpose, 200 adults were recruited from the Chilean Diabetic Association. Participants were asked to complete self-report instruments and provide a capillary blood sample to measure HbA1c. Structural equation model analyses were performed to determine direct associations. The study’s results indicate that greater perceived social support was associated with healthier dietary habits, regular foot care, more frequent physical activity, and lower medication intake. Likewise, blood sugar testing and physical activity were related to HbA1c. These findings provide evidence of how perceived social support relates to T2D treatment adherence behaviors in Latino patients from South America and could be used for interventions to enhance social support from patients’ families, partners, and friends.