LIVING TOGETHER CAN BE GOOD FOR DIABETES MANAGEMENT

Living with a spouse or partner might help people maintain lower blood glucose levels, according to a recent study.

Previous studies have suggested that being married or in a long-term relationship can have a positive effect on your blood glucose levels. A new study, published in the journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, focuses on the relationship between marital status and quality, and average blood glucose levels in older adults. However, the relationship between social health and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is complex, and the effects of different social factors on health are not yet fully understood.

To investigate this relationship, researchers from Luxembourg and Canada analysed data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, which collects data from adults aged 50 and over and their partners in England. The researchers looked at the relationship between relationship status, relationship quality, and blood glucose levels in older adults.

The data showed that people who were married or living with a partner were more likely to have lower blood glucose levels. However, the quality of that relationship did not appear to make a significant difference to blood glucose levels, suggesting that simply being in a committed relationship was enough to have a positive effect on health.

The study’s authors argued that having a supportive or strained relationship was less important than just having a relationship at all. In other words, just having someone there to share your life with might help people maintain lower blood glucose levels.

The researchers used biomarker data to measure glycemic levels in 3,335 adults aged 50 to 89 years old who had not been diagnosed with diabetes. Participants were also asked if they had a husband, wife, or partner with whom they lived and were asked questions designed to measure the level of social strain and social support within the relationship. Information on several factors such as age, income, employment, smoking, physical activity, depression, body mass index (BMI), and other social relationships were also collected.

The data showed that about three-quarters (76%) of the respondents were married or cohabiting. Analysis of the data over time showed that people who experienced relationship transitions, such as divorce, also experienced significant changes in their glycemic levels and odds of pre-diabetes.

The study had some limitations, such as the fact that not all participants were able to provide follow-up data. However, while the study cannot prove cause, the researchers argue that their study’s use of more accurate and precise measures of blood glucose levels is a strength compared to previous studies that relied on self-reported diagnoses.

The researchers suggest that more support should be provided to older adults who experience the loss of a committed relationship through divorce or bereavement, as this may help to mitigate health risks associated with these transitions. Additionally, the dismantling of negative stereotypes around romantic relationships in later life may be a starting point for addressing health risks associated with relationship transitions in older adults.

The study’s findings are significant because type 2 diabetes risk is associated with a number of social health dimensions, including social isolation, loneliness, living arrangements, social support, and social network size. By showing that having a supportive partner, regardless of the quality of the relationship, can help people maintain lower blood glucose levels, the study highlights the importance of social connections in maintaining good health.

In conclusion, the study suggests that cohabiting relationships, even those under strain, may help people avoid high glycemic levels. The findings have implications for policymakers and healthcare providers who work with older adults, highlighting the importance of supporting social connections in promoting good health. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying the relationship between social support and blood glucose levels in older adults, but the study’s findings suggest that having someone there can make a real difference in maintaining good health in later life.