Family influences on type 2 diabetes self-management: Perspectives of African American adults with food insecurity

Background: Prior studies have established relationships between diabetes management and food insecurity and highlighted the role of family support in diabetes management. However, there remain gaps in understanding how families influence diabetes self-management within the context of food insecurity. This study aimed to explore the impact of family dynamics on diabetes self-management among food-insecure African American adults. Method: We reanalyzed qualitative data from two focus groups with 16 African American adults to explore how family influences diabetes self-management among food-insecure individuals with Type 2 Diabetes. The original research used a grounded theory approach to examine broader challenges, barriers, and support in diabetes care. Results: We identified four themes that characterized family influences on different aspects of diabetes self-management, including diet, exercise, stress, and self-care routines, for African American adults with type 2 diabetes who reported food insecurity. The themes include Changes in Diet and Exercise Routines, Family Assistance with Diabetes Self-Management, Conflict between Self-Care and Family Responsibilities, and Adapting to Family Situations. Conclusion: Our findings from food-insecure African Americans with type 2 diabetes reveal that families significantly influence diabetes self-management, confirming similar outcomes from research with other populations. Given their distinct sociocultural and economic characteristics, there is a clear need for family-inclusive diabetes self-management education and support explicitly tailored for African American adults living with diabetes while experiencing food insecurity.