Supportive family members of diabetic adults.

OBJECTIVE

Family members usually become involved during the course of care for a chronic illness. This study identified the diabetic adult's perceived supportive family member(s) and analyzed whether family participation was associated with the diabetic adults' level of metabolic control.

METHODS

A telephone survey of 131 diabetic adults was conducted from a family practice residency office asking patients to identify family members participating in their diabetes care and to enumerate specific support activities. Demographic and metabolic control data were abstracted from patient records.

RESULTS

Two broad categories of family participation exist. The first is the family health monitor (FHM), or internal "health expert" for the family. The other is the often distinct primary supportive family member; or "helper," defined as a family member who performs at least one supportive task in the care of the illness. Three-fourths of diabetic adults identified an FHM within their families. Eighty-seven percent of FHM's were women, usually adult daughters of diabetic women or wives of diabetic men. Forty-nine percent of diabetic women and 70% of diabetic men also identified a "helper." The most frequent helping tasks involved: dietary issues (48%), medication (23%), general support (15%) and blood sugar monitoring (9%). No relationship emerged between the presence or absence of an FHM or a helper and the level of metabolic control as measured by HbA1C level, which was categorized as "poor" in 55% of the sample.

CONCLUSIONS

An FHM or some other helping family member is available to most diabetic adults in our patient population. The mere presence of an available FHM or other potential resource person is not necessarily related to a positive influence on metabolic control.