Financial Stability Affects Adjustment to Diabetes Diagnosis

Among women, financial security determines the quality of adjustment to a diabetes diagnosis, according to research published in a recent issue of Qualitative Social Work.

For their study, Emily Nicklett and colleagues at the University of Michigan conducted and transcribed semi-structured interviews with 18 diabetic women aged 51-92 years. The participants were asked about the time of their diabetes diagnoses and the interactions they had with their doctors, as well as their daily routines and financial status.

At the conclusion of the study, the investigators found diabetic women who were financially secure were more optimistic and had better medical access compared to women who were not financially stable. Moreover, social status affected how manageable the patients perceived their diabetes to be, the knowledge of their condition pre-diagnosis, their chances to learn more about their condition, and the severity of their disease at diagnosis.

For example, study participants who grew up in a financially stable setting were likely to witness cases of diabetes that were under control due to adequate access to healthcare, but those who were raised without financial stability saw severe cases of diabetes.

“It became apparent that having previous knowledge about diabetes and the regimen — as well as having previous experiences viewing complications unfold among loved ones — shaped the experience of diagnosis and attitudes toward diabetes," Nickett concluded in a statement.