Introduction

Abstract

The complexity and sophistication of treatments for diabetes has increased dramatically in recent years, but despite these advances, many people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes continue to have less than optimal metabolic control and suffer from preventable complications and reduced quality of life. Increasing awareness of the central role that patients play in achieving optimal outcomes has also given rise to the understanding that self-management is vastly more complex than the individual exercising “self-control.” In addition to individual characteristics, the environment in which behaviors occur has great influence, from family dynamics and access to different modes of health care to the workplace and national health policies. This book examines the synthesis of individual and context using a social ecological perspective and explores ideas for clinical practice and improving approaches to promoting engagement in diabetes care, effective diabetes self-management, and quality of life among pediatric and adult populations. We describe the organization of this book, with parallel sections on children and adults, each exploring individual, social, community, and policy-level issues in diabetes management, and summaries and discussion of implications for clinical practice and research.