What types of support are considered helpful for family members of patients with type 2 diabetes?

The aim of this research is to add to the body of evidence about carers for sufferers of chronic disease more generally and address the gap in knowledge regarding carers for people with type 2 diabetes more specifically. It may help to elucidate characteristics of those who would most benefit from support and develop strategies that could be translated into clinical practice. I also hope my research would help inform future qualitative and quantitative studies regarding the impact of support strategies for carers upon outcomes such as quality of life and psychological stress. Additionally such support strategies may have impacts upon health and wellbeing for diabetics themselves. Further research may be needed to examine issues in other ethnic and cultural groups where they may be additional needs and challenges in supporting people with diabetes and their families. As a general practitioner I am ideally placed to influence primary care networks to help bring about changes to practice if found to be effective.