The Associations Between Diabetes Distress, Diet, and psychosocial Factors in Hispanic and Latino Adults Living With Type 2 Diabetes in the U.S.: Results From An Online Survey.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study was to explore the associations between dietary intake, social support, acculturation, coping, and diabetes distress (DD) levels among Hispanic and Latino adults with type 2 diabetes.
Materials And Methods
An online cross-sectional survey was administered using Qualtrics. Multiple linear regression models analyzed the relationships between DD, diabetes-related behaviors, diet, acculturation, social support, and coping.
Results
Participants (n = 200) were, on average, 48.8 ± 14.4 (mean ± SD) years old, born in the U.S. (83.5%), and had type 2 diabetes for 2.8 ± 0.9 years. They self-reported an A1C level of ≥6.0% (80.5%), at least one other chronic disease (55.5%), and were prescribed diabetes medications (78.8%) and/or insulin (59.0%). Linear regression models showed that taking insulin significantly predicted lower levels of distress (b = -0.118; 95% CI, -0.18 to -0.05), and lower coping ability significantly predicted higher DD levels (b = 5.519; 95% CI, 4.04-7.00). There were no significant differences in DD associated with dietary intake.
Conclusions
This study highlights the need for including effective coping strategies for DD management into diabetes care programs for Hispanic and Latino adults with type 2 diabetes.