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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #364997
Title: Which diabetes strengths matter most? Associations with key outcomes

Author
item CAO, VIENA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item ESHETEHARDI, SAHAR - Baylor College Of Medicine
item Thompson, Deborah - Debbe
item KARAVITI, LEFKOTHEA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item HILLIARD, MARISA - Baylor College Of Medicine

Submitted to: Diabetes
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2019
Publication Date: 6/1/2019
Citation: Cao, V.T., Eshetehardi, S.S., Thompson, D.J., Karaviti, L., Hilliard, M.E. 2019. Which diabetes strengths matter most? Associations with key outcomes. Diabetes. 68(Supplement 1):208-OR. https://doi.org/10.2337/db19-208-OR.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2337/db19-208-OR

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Many adolescents use adaptive type 1 diabetes (T1D)-related behaviors, or "strengths," to overcome challenges and achieve resilient diabetes outcomes (i.e., good self-management, general and T1D-specific quality of life (QoL), and glycemic control). Overall, strengths are linked to these key outcomes, but identifying which individual positive behaviors are most associated may assist care teams in promoting the most important strengths in their patients. Participants were n=82 adolescents (age 12-17, M age=15.3+/-1.5 years, 59% female, M HbA1C=8.9+/-2.0%, 55% pump) with T1D enrolled in a behavioral intervention. Baseline data included youth self-report on the Diabetes Strengths and Resilience (DSTAR) measure (12 items, 2 scales) and measures of self-management and QoL, and chart-confirmed HbA1c. Significant correlations between DSTAR items/scales and diabetes outcomes are summarized in the Table. T1D strengths are related to all key outcomes. The items about overall T1D-related self-efficacy and prioritizing T1D management are related to multiple resilient outcomes and may be important intervention targets. Both DSTAR scales and 9 of their items correlated with self-management, suggesting strengths-based interventions may benefit treatment adherence. Youth with better outcomes may also feel more capable. Unexpected inverse associations for 3 items should be further studied.