According to Gram Research analysis, a 2026 study of 107 Brazilian adults with type 1 diabetes found that feeling in personal control over their condition was the strongest predictor of consistent self-care behaviors, including blood sugar monitoring, healthy eating, exercise, and medication adherence. People who believed they could influence their diabetes outcomes were significantly more likely to manage it effectively, suggesting that psychological confidence may be as important as medical knowledge for long-term diabetes management.
A new study of 107 Brazilian adults with type 1 diabetes reveals that how you think about your condition—especially whether you feel in control of it—directly affects how well you manage it day-to-day. Researchers found that people who felt they had personal control over their diabetes were more likely to check their blood sugar, eat well, exercise, and take their insulin consistently. The study suggests that helping people develop a stronger sense of control early on, even during adolescence, could lead to better diabetes management throughout their lives. This research highlights that managing diabetes isn’t just about the physical tasks—your mindset matters just as much.
Key Statistics
A 2026 cross-sectional study of 107 Brazilian adults with type 1 diabetes found that personal control was the most consistent predictor of self-care behaviors across diet, physical activity, blood glucose monitoring, and medication engagement.
Research reviewed by Gram found that adults with type 1 diabetes who felt greater personal control over their condition were significantly more likely to monitor their blood glucose regularly and follow treatment recommendations.
A 2026 study of 107 adults with type 1 diabetes showed that participants diagnosed during adolescence and older participants demonstrated better overall self-care habits, suggesting that early experience managing diabetes strengthens long-term management skills.
According to a 2026 analysis of 107 Brazilian adults, concern about diabetes complications predicted greater engagement in foot care, while belief in treatment effectiveness predicted more frequent blood glucose testing.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether the way people think and feel about their type 1 diabetes influences how well they take care of themselves
- Who participated: 107 adults in Brazil with type 1 diabetes, averaging 31 years old, mostly women, who were diagnosed during their teenage years
- Key finding: People who felt they had personal control over their diabetes were significantly more likely to monitor their blood sugar, eat healthy, exercise, and take their medications as prescribed
- What it means for you: If you have type 1 diabetes, building confidence in your ability to manage your condition may be just as important as learning the technical skills. This suggests doctors and educators should focus on helping patients feel empowered, not just informed.
The Research Details
Researchers recruited 107 adults living in Brazil who have type 1 diabetes and asked them to complete online surveys. The surveys included questions about their background and diabetes history, plus two specific questionnaires: one that measured how well they were taking care of themselves (checking blood sugar, eating right, exercising, taking insulin), and another that measured how they perceived their illness (whether they felt in control, how serious they thought it was, how much it worried them).
The researchers then used statistical analysis to see which illness perceptions were most strongly connected to self-care behaviors. They looked at multiple combinations of factors to find patterns that held up consistently across different self-care activities.
This approach is called a cross-sectional study, meaning researchers collected all the information at one point in time rather than following people over months or years. This lets researchers identify connections between thoughts and behaviors, though it can’t prove that one causes the other.
Understanding the psychological side of diabetes management is crucial because type 1 diabetes requires constant attention—multiple daily insulin injections, frequent blood sugar checks, careful eating, and regular exercise. Many people struggle with this burden, especially when they feel helpless or overwhelmed. By identifying that personal control is a key factor, this research suggests that psychological interventions could be just as valuable as medical ones.
This study has several strengths: it used validated questionnaires that have been tested in other research, the sample size of 107 is reasonable for this type of analysis, and the findings make logical sense based on existing psychology theories. However, the study only included Brazilian adults, so results may not apply equally to other populations. Also, because it’s a snapshot in time rather than following people over years, we can’t be certain that feeling in control actually causes better self-care, or whether better self-care creates a sense of control. The study was conducted online, which may have excluded people without internet access.
What the Results Show
The most striking finding was that personal control—the belief that you can influence your diabetes and its outcomes—was the strongest and most consistent predictor of self-care across nearly all behaviors studied. People who felt they had personal control were more likely to monitor their blood glucose regularly, follow dietary recommendations, engage in physical activity, and take their medications as prescribed.
Interestingly, other aspects of how people perceived their illness predicted specific behaviors. For example, people who felt more concerned or worried about their diabetes were more likely to take care of their feet, possibly because worry motivated them to prevent complications. People who believed their treatment could control their diabetes were more likely to check their blood sugar frequently.
The study also found that older participants and those diagnosed earlier in life (during adolescence) tended to have better self-care habits overall. This suggests that experience managing diabetes over many years, and starting that management during the formative teenage years, may help people develop stronger self-care routines.
Age and age at diagnosis emerged as important factors. Participants who were older and those who had been managing diabetes since adolescence showed better overall self-care engagement. This pattern suggests that the longer someone has lived with diabetes, and the earlier they began learning to manage it, the more likely they are to maintain good habits. The study also noted that participants showed ‘moderately adequate’ blood sugar control on average, indicating that while their self-care wasn’t perfect, it was reasonably effective.
This research builds on decades of psychology research showing that how people think about their health conditions affects their behavior. The Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation, which guided this study, has been used successfully to understand how people manage many chronic diseases. This study is one of the first to thoroughly examine this model specifically in Brazilian adults with type 1 diabetes, filling a gap in the research literature for this population.
The study only included people who could complete an online survey, potentially excluding older adults or those with limited internet access. The sample was predominantly female (the exact percentage wasn’t specified in the abstract), so findings may not apply equally to men. Because this was a one-time survey rather than following people over time, we can’t determine whether feeling in control actually causes better self-care or whether successfully managing diabetes creates a sense of control. The study was conducted in Brazil, so cultural factors specific to that country may influence the results. Finally, the study measured self-reported behaviors (what people said they did) rather than objective measures like actual blood sugar readings, which could be affected by people’s tendency to report what they think they should be doing rather than what they actually do.
The Bottom Line
If you have type 1 diabetes, work with your healthcare team to build your confidence in managing your condition. This might include diabetes education classes, connecting with others who have type 1 diabetes, or working with a therapist who specializes in chronic illness. Focus on understanding how your actions (checking blood sugar, eating well, exercising, taking insulin) directly affect your health outcomes. Start these habits early if possible, and remember that building a sense of control is a gradual process. (Confidence level: Moderate—this is one study, though it aligns with broader psychology research.)
This research is most relevant to adults with type 1 diabetes, particularly those who struggle with motivation or feel overwhelmed by their self-care demands. It’s also important for parents of teenagers with type 1 diabetes, as it suggests that building a sense of control during adolescence may have lifelong benefits. Healthcare providers, diabetes educators, and mental health professionals working with type 1 diabetes patients should consider these findings when designing interventions.
Building a stronger sense of personal control is not a quick fix. Research suggests that psychological changes typically take weeks to months to develop and influence behavior. You might notice small improvements in motivation within a few weeks, but significant changes in self-care habits and blood sugar control typically take 3-6 months or longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does how I think about my diabetes actually affect how well I manage it?
Research shows a strong connection: adults with type 1 diabetes who felt they had personal control over their condition were significantly more likely to check blood sugar, eat well, exercise, and take insulin consistently. Your mindset appears to directly influence your daily self-care behaviors.
What’s the most important psychological factor for managing type 1 diabetes?
A 2026 study of 107 adults found that personal control—believing you can influence your diabetes and its outcomes—was the strongest and most consistent predictor of good self-care across all behaviors measured, from diet to medication adherence.
Can I improve my diabetes management by building confidence in myself?
Yes. Research suggests that developing a stronger sense of personal control over your diabetes may help you stick to self-care routines. This typically develops gradually through education, experience, and support, often taking weeks to months to significantly impact behavior.
Does it matter when someone is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes?
The study found that people diagnosed during adolescence showed better self-care habits as adults, suggesting that learning to manage diabetes during teenage years may establish stronger lifelong management skills and a greater sense of control.
Should I see a therapist if I’m struggling to manage my type 1 diabetes?
This research suggests that psychological factors significantly influence diabetes management. Working with a mental health professional who understands chronic illness could help you build the sense of personal control that research shows is crucial for consistent self-care.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track your sense of control weekly using a simple 1-10 scale: ‘How much do I feel I can control my diabetes this week?’ Also log your self-care activities (blood sugar checks, meals logged, exercise minutes, insulin doses taken). Over time, you’ll see whether increases in your sense of control correlate with better self-care consistency.
- Use the app to set one specific, achievable diabetes management goal each week—such as ‘Check blood sugar 4 times daily’ or ‘Exercise 3 times this week.’ When you successfully complete it, the app should celebrate this win and help you reflect on how your actions directly affected your health. This builds the sense of personal control that research shows matters most.
- Create a monthly ‘control check-in’ where you review: (1) Which self-care activities you completed most consistently, (2) How your sense of control changed, and (3) How your blood sugar control improved. Use the app to show visual progress over 3-month periods, helping you see the connection between feeling in control and achieving better health outcomes.
This research describes associations between illness perceptions and self-care behaviors in a specific population and cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships. Individual results vary, and this information should not replace professional medical advice. If you have type 1 diabetes, consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your management plan. This study was conducted in Brazil and may not apply equally to all populations. Always work with your diabetes care team when adjusting your self-care approach.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.