Association between social support and glycaemic control among older Type 2 diabetes patients attending the family medicine clinic, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Poor glycemic control is a major health problem that greatly contributes to the development of diabetes-related complications. especially in older adults. Social support among older diabetics has been linked with many health outcomes including  glycemic control.

Aim: This study aims to determine the association between social support and glycemic control among older T2DM patients with a view to improve clinical outcomes of older T2DM patients.

Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study involving 384 consenting older type 2 diabetes patients recruited  using the systematic random sampling method. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and The Morisky  Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) were used to obtain information on social support and medication adherence. Glycosylated  Hemoglobin (HbA1c) was used to assess glycemic control. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.

Results: Forty nine point seven percent  (49.7% ) of the respondents had high overall perceived social support. About 50% percent of respondents had poor glycaemic control.  Overall, 60.6% of those with moderate/low support had poor glycemic control (OR 2.253, p- < 0.001), other identiied predictors of poor  glycaemic control were; duration of diabetes less than 5 years (OR 2.386 p- 0.002), low medication adherence (OR-1.746, p-0.031), and  treatment with oral medication and insulin (OR- 2.734, p-0.001).

Conclusion: Close attention should be paid to older diabetics with low  and moderate perceived social support. In addition, those with the duration of diabetes < 5 years who have poor medication adherence  and are treated with oral medication and insulin, as they are more likely to have poor glycaemic control.