Our Research on Couples and Type 1 Diabetes

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1 of 1

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Yorgason, J.B., Saylor, J., Berg, C., Davey, A., Rellaford, S., & Steeger, E. (2021). Overprotective behavior and time in range: Daily dyadic patterns among spouses and young adults with type 1 diabetes. American Diabetes Association 81st Scientific Sessions. Online.

Dr. Yorgason presented this poster at the American Diabetes Association research conference. This study had young married couples where one spouse had type 1 diabetes complete a daily survey measuring aspects of communal coping (working together to manage diabetes) such as emotional support, instrumental support, over-protective behavior, illness avoidance, and controlling behavior for 10 days. They also measured sleep, physical activity, nutrition, daily average blood glucose and time in range. The results found that when the partner had higher overprotective behavior, the partner with diabetes had lower time-in-range. Spouses who were more overprotective had partners with higher daily average blood glucose. Spousal controlling behavior and instrumental support were also associated with lower time in range for the person with diabetes. This may be because partners become more overprotective when their partner with diabetes has a day with lower time in range or higher blood glucose, rather than a spouse’s behavior leading to their partner having lower time in range that day.


Roper, S. O., & Yorgason, J. B. (2009). Older adults with diabetes and osteoarthritis and their spouses: Effects of activity limitations, marital happiness, and social contacts on partners’ daily mood. Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science, 58(4), 460-474. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2009.00566.x

The focus of this article is on older married couples with one partner diagnosed with diabetes and osteoarthritis. The daily mood of their spouse in these marital relationships is influenced by the mobility and limitations of the diagnosed partner each day.

Yorgason, J. B., Saylor, J., Ness, M., Millett, M., & Floreen, A. (2021). Health technology use and perceptions of romantic relationships by emerging adults with Type 1 diabetes. Family Relations. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12537

This article focuses on emerging adults with type 1 diabetes entering romantic relationships. The article centers on how diabetic technology (insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitor, etc) is impactful to an emerging adult disclosing their diabetes diagnosis to their romantic partner.

Couples and Diabetes
Messina, R., Due-Christensen, M., Keller-Senn, A., Polek, E., Fantini, M. P., & Sturt, J. (2021). Couples living with type 1 diabetes: An integrative review of the impacts on health and wellbeing. Journal of Health Psychology, 26(3), 412-437. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105318817356

This article reviewed 24 studies on people with diabetes and their partners. They found that across studies, maintaining healthy, resilient, high quality intimate relationships was associated with better physical and psychological health for people with diabetes. Investing in intimate relationships has the potential to reap significant benefits for people with diabetes and their partners. While partners’ overall psychological health was not negatively impacted, they often experienced disturbed sleep and felt distress about their partner’s glycemic variability.


Managing Type 1 Diabetes
Wiebe, D. J., Berg, C. A., Mello, D., & Kelly, C. S. (2018). Self-and social-regulation in type 1 diabetes management during late adolescence and emerging adulthood. Current Diabetes Reports, 18 (23),1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-018-0995-3 https://rdcu.be/cqR0Q


This article focuses on how proper T1D management and social regulation are vital to protecting those with type 1 diabetes. Support from family and friends influences better personal T1D management.