Addressing the social determinants of health may improve diabetes outcomes, according to a study published in Health Affairs. Leonard E. Egede, MD, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to identify studies evaluating non-medical interventions (eg, those targeting social determinants of health) to reduce risk and improve clinical outcomes for T2D. Interventions with targeted, multicomponent designs that combine both medical and non-medical approaches can reduce risk and were found to improve clinical outcomes for T2D. Food supplementation with referral and diabetes support; financial incentives with education and skills training; housing relocation with counseling support; and the integration of non-medical interventions into medical care using the EMR all were associated with significant improvement in A1C. “Actionable strategies outlined in this article may be used as a guide to build that empirical foundation to improve clinical outcomes for adults with T2D,” the study authors wrote.
