Study Finds Empathetic Phone Calls Improve Blood Sugar Control in Adults With Diabetes

A new study shows that “empathy-focused phone calls made by trained, nonmedical community members led to significant improvements in blood sugar control for low-income adults with diabetes.”

The six-month clinical trial involved 260 patients with uncontrolled diabetes who were split into two groups. One of the groups received standard care and the other received both standard care and “regular calls focused on listening and empathy.” The calls were made by “community members trained to provide compassionate support, enabling participants to share their experiences and challenges in living with diabetes.”

Improvements noted in the study include an average HbA1c reduction of 0.7% in the group receiving calls “compared with no significant change in the control group.” Patients with mild depressive symptoms saw “even larger reductions, with average HbA1c improvements of 1.1%.” Plus, “nearly all participants receiving the calls rated them as very or extremely beneficial to their well-being.” Participants could choose the frequency and duration of their calls and adjust over time.

This study was based on prior research that found “a series of consistent, authentic phone calls from people who were not healthcare professionals” showed promise in “improving loneliness, depression, anxiety and overall mental health among mostly homebound, older adults.”