Reports from Department of Internal Medicine Describe Recent Advances in Managed Care (Associations Between Social Determinants of Health and Diabetes Self-care Behaviors Among Insured Adult Patients): Managed Care

2024 FEB 15 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Researchers detail new data in Managed Care. According to news reporting originating in Greenville, North Carolina, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “This study explored the association between social determinants of health (SDOH) and diabetes care behaviors among individuals with health insurance. Data from 57,206 US residents, representing a population of over 25.58 million adults with health insurance and diagnosed diabetes, were included in this cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.”

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the Department of Internal Medicine, “Logistic regression models were constructed to evaluate the likelihood of various diabetes care behaviors given the presence of several SDOH (e.g., food insecurity, poverty, housing insecurity, rurality). Most respondents exercised, ate vegetables, saw a provider for diabetes-related care in the last year, and reported checking their feet and testing their blood sugar daily. Not feeling safe (odds ratio (OR) 1.77, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.04, 3.01) was related to never checking blood sugar. Experiencing frequent stress was associated with a lower likelihood of exercise (OR .77, 95% CI 0.60, 0.999) and lower likelihood of checking blood sugar at least once a day (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.54, 0.99). Food insecurity was associated with lower likelihood of vegetable consumption (OR 0.63, 95 % CI 0.47, 0.85) but a higher likelihood of checking blood sugar (OR 1.80, 95 % CI 1.26, 2.57). Low-income respondents were less likely to exercise (OR 0.72, 95 % CI 0.64, 0.80) or eat vegetables (OR 0.83, 95 % CI 0.75, 0.93) but more likely to check their feet (OR 1.19, 95 % CI 1.04, 1.35) and blood sugar at least once per day (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01, 1.31). Those who rent their home were also more likely to check their blood sugar (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07, 1.37) but less likely to have eaten vegetables in the last week (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78, 0.97). Respondents living in rural areas were more likely to have visited a provider in the last year (OR 1.21 95% CI 1.00, 1.47).”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “SDOH can adversely affect diabetes self-care behaviors, providers should assist vulnerable patients by connecting them with community resources and providing individualized care.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Associations Between Social Determinants of Health and Diabetes Self-care Behaviors Among Insured Adult Patients. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 2024;207. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice can be contacted at: Elsevier Ireland Ltd, Elsevier House, Brookvale Plaza, East Park Shannon, Co, Clare, 00000, Ireland. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice - http://www.journals.elsevier.com/diabetes-research-and-clinical-practice/)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Ashley E. Burch, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Dept Hlth Serv & Informat Management, 600 Moye Blvd, Mail Stop 668, 4340N Hlth Sci Bldg, Greenville, NC 27858, United States. Additional authors for this research include Sarah K. Elliott and Susie T. Harris.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2023.111048. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)