Peer support for type 2 diabetes self-management.

Abstract

Self-management support is considered to be the main-stay of chronic disease management, particularly type 2 diabetes. However, as the disease prevalence is rapidly increase, existing healthcare systems are not able to adequately provide self-management support for all patients. Utilizing peer support system in diabetes self-management support has high potential to fill this gap. Furthermore, peer support also has some advantages over professional-led self management support. This report describes topic relating to utilization of peer for self-management support including (a) background, (b) evidence about self management support and peer support, (c) role of peer in self management support, (d) models of peer support, (e) structure of peer support program and its linkage with healthcare system, and (f) summary about the gap of knowledge relating current peer support programs.