Fatalistic and Religiosity Beliefs among Mexican-American Adults with Type 2 Diabetes attending a Chronic Care Management Program

Abstract

Aims: To determine the relationship between fatalistic beliefs and lifetime religiosity with type 2 diabetes management as measured by hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and blood glucose monitoring behavior.

Methods: Study sample is comprised of adult Mexican-Americans enrolled in a chronic care management program, Salud y Vida, for individuals with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. At baseline, participants were administered the Diabetes Fatalism Scale and a sub-scale of the National Comorbidity Study-Replication (NCS-R) relating to lifetime religiosity. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were computed while controlling for gender, age, education, blood pressure and body mass index.

Results: Unadjusted linear regression results showed overall Diabetes Fatalism and Emotional Distress to have statistically significant positive associations with HbA1c. Adjusted logistic regression models only showed overall Diabetes Fatalism to be associated with HbA1c. Regression models did not find a significant association between diabetes fatalism nor religiosity and blood glucose monitoring behaviors.

Conclusions:  Findings suggest Diabetes Fatalism is a significant predictor of poorer blood glucose management among a sample of newly-enrolled Hispanic participants of a chronic care management program. Further research is needed to examine this relationship longitudinally to observe the effect of such a program on these belief systems and resultant health outcomes.