CONCLUSIONS Despite a compelling theoretical base , research ers have only minimally studied the value of interventions targeting patients ' social networks on diabetes care .
OBJECTIVES In the care of patients with type 2 diabetes , self-management is emphasised and studied while theory and observations suggest that patients also benefit from social support .
We sought to assess the effect of social network interventions on social support , glycaemic control and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes .
A "family-based" approach to the treatment of obese type II diabetic patients.
Forty-nine obese diabetic patients with obese spouses ( diabetic or nondiabetic ) were r and omly assigned to an alone or together condition . Patients in the alone group participated by themselves in a 20-week behavioral weight control program ; their spouses attended assessment sessions only . Patients in the together group attended the program with their spouses ; both were targeted for weight loss and taught social support strategies .  Weight losses of patients treated alone and together did not differ significantly at posttreatment ( 19.9 vs. 19.1 lb ) or 1-year follow-up ( 11.6 vs. 7.0 lb ) . However , there was a significant interaction of treatment and gender ; women did better when treated with their spouses , whereas men did better when treated alone . A " family-based " approach was not effective for these obese Type II diabetic patients as a whole but may be helpful for women
CONCLUSIONS Despite a compelling theoretical base , research ers have only minimally studied the value of interventions targeting patients ' social networks on diabetes care .
OBJECTIVES In the care of patients with type 2 diabetes , self-management is emphasised and studied while theory and observations suggest that patients also benefit from social support .
We sought to assess the effect of social network interventions on social support , glycaemic control and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes .