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Mexican Americans have a greater burden of type 2 diabetes, yet are known to benefit from supportive social networks. COVID-19 made it more complicated to maintain these social networks. In related studies published in PLoS ONE and the Journal of Urban Health, Associate Professor Karen Flórez and colleagues examined the role of social networks in mediating diabetes prevalence among Mexican immigrants in the Bronx before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They found that having more people with diabetes in one’s social network was linked to worse blood sugar control. Having more people in the network who ate an “American diet” was linked to better blood sugar control. Interestingly, having more people who encouraged health at baseline was linked to worse blood sugar control at follow-up given that they also had better blood sugar control relative to those with less supportive members.
Even when people had diabetes complications, they didn’t always see maintaining a specific blood sugar level as crucial to their health. They trusted doctors above all for diabetes care, even more than their personal support networks. This research helps us understand the complex role of social networks and may guide future health information campaigns to prevent and manage diabetes in this community.
“Qualitative insights suggest that network members can be both helpful and difficult agents for individual glycemic control through the provision or constraint of tangible and information support for diet, with much less emphasis placed on physical activity,” says Flórez. “Glycemic dysregulation only became an issue when it prevented participants or members of their network from engaging in work or caretaking responsibilities. Network interventions to improve outcomes in this population must take these norms into account if they are to be effective.”
