Social and Health Care Provider Support in Diabetes Self-Management

OBJECTIVE: To qualitatively determine social and health care provider support in diabetes self-management of Asian Indians in the United States. METHODS: Thirty Asian Indian adults with type 2 diabetes in either acceptable (AC) (HbA1c<7%) or unacceptable (UC) (HbA1c≥7%) glycemic control were interviewed. Emergent themes were analyzed using the constant comparison method. RESULTS: Support from social networks and health care providers was more evident in the AC versus the UC group. UC participants tended to rely more on health-care provider guidance and communication. CONCLUSION: Involvement of a patient's social networks might be an important part of patient-tailored interventions targeting this population.