Peer Support Interventions for Diabetes Self-Management

Peer support for diabetes self-management harnesses the lived experience of people with diabetes to assist others in coping with the clinical, behavioural and psychosocial demands of the condition. Interventions take the form of one-to-one mentoring, group meetings or digitally mediated exchanges, and may offer emotional encouragement, practical advice, shared problem-solving and regular feedback on self-care practices. Such programmes often focus on improving glycaemic control, enhancing self-efficacy and reducing diabetes distress, while leveraging cultural or community ties to foster engagement. Evidence indicates that moderate to high frequency of contact and tailored content—whether delivered face to face or via digital platforms—are key to sustaining motivation and achieving measurable improvements in glycated haemoglobin, blood pressure and self-management behaviours. Globally, peer support models have been adapted for underserved populations, incorporating local language, community health workers or structured training for peer leaders. These interventions not only strengthen individual coping skills but also build community capacity for long-term diabetes care.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Peer Support Interventions for Diabetes Self-Management publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in peer support interventions for diabetes self-management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Peer support: Assistance provided by individuals with lived experience of diabetes to help others manage the condition.

Diabetes self-management: Ongoing activities—such as monitoring blood glucose, adhering to medication, diet and exercise—carried out by individuals to control their diabetes.

Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c): A laboratory measure of average blood glucose levels over the preceding two to three months, used to assess long-term glycaemic control.

Conversational agent: A computer programme designed to simulate human dialogue, delivering personalised educational or emotional support.

Electronic medical records (EMR): Digitised patient health information used to segment populations and tailor interventions based on clinical and behavioural data.

References

1. Applying Patient Segmentation Using Primary Care Electronic Medical Records to Develop a Virtual Peer-to-Peer Intervention for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Future Internet (2023).
2. Reducing social diabetes distress with a conversational agent support system: a three-week technology feasibility evaluation. Frontiers in Digital Health (2023).
3. Lessons learned from a peer-supported diabetes education program in two dissimilar Mayan communities. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2024).
4. Current evidence for designing self-management support for underserved populations: an integrative review using the example of diabetes. International Journal for Equity in Health (2023).