The contribution of social support in the management of diabetes mellitus

Introduction: Patients with diabetes face significant challenges in managing their disease. The social support they receive from family members or their friends and wider community can help them to better manage their illness.

Aim: The aim of this review was to investigate the impact of social support on the management of diabetes.

Material and Methods: A literature review was conducted in the PubMed database. Articles published in English language between 2012-2022 were selected. The keywords used were: diabetes, management, outcomes, social, support. Primary (cross-sectional) and secondary (systematic reviews and meta-analyses) studies were included.

Results: Diabetic patients who receive social support from their family members, friends and significant others in their social environment have better mental health and experience lower diabetes-related stress, while having a lower likelihood of developing depression. They also show better adherence to dietary restrictions, medication, physical activity and control of their feet. Finally, the greater the social support, the better the glycosylated hemoglobin levels, the regulation of which is associated with disease progression and even mortality in diabetic patients.

Conclusions: Τhe control and management of diabetes is a difficult and continuous process for the patient. The social support that the patients receive is a powerful ally that helps them to cope with the demands of a chronic disease.

Keywords: management, outcomes, Diabetes mellitus (DM), social support