Researchers followed 99 couples where one person had type 2 diabetes for 5 years to understand how working together as a team affects health. They found that couples who tackled diabetes management together—by talking about it openly and helping each other—had better moods, less stress, and stuck to their diets better. However, the study showed that teamwork actually decreased over the 5 years. The good news is that the benefits of working together became even more important as time went on, suggesting that couples who maintain this teamwork approach may have better long-term health outcomes.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether couples who work together to manage type 2 diabetes have better health and emotional well-being compared to those who don’t work together as a team
  • Who participated: 99 couples where one partner had type 2 diabetes (about 1-2 years after diagnosis). The group was 64% White and 36% Black. Researchers checked in with them twice: once early on and again 5 years later.
  • Key finding: Couples who worked together on diabetes management had better moods, handled stress better, and followed their diets more closely. However, teamwork naturally decreased over the 5 years, even though it became more important for health as time went on.
  • What it means for you: If you have type 2 diabetes, actively involving your partner or family member in your care—by discussing your condition, making decisions together, and supporting each other—may help you feel better emotionally and manage your diabetes more effectively. This benefit appears to grow stronger over time, so maintaining this teamwork is worth the effort.

The Research Details

This study used a special research method called a ‘measurement burst design.’ Researchers asked couples to keep detailed diaries for 14 days early in the diabetes diagnosis (around 1-2 years after diagnosis) and then repeated the same process 5 years later. This approach captures detailed daily information at two important time points, allowing researchers to see how things change over a long period.

The couples answered questions about how they worked together on diabetes management, their emotional well-being, stress levels, and how well they followed their diabetes care routines (like checking blood sugar and eating healthy). The researchers used advanced statistical methods to look at both overall patterns and individual changes within each couple.

This design is particularly useful because it captures real-life daily experiences rather than just asking people to remember what happened over months or years. By measuring the same things twice, 5 years apart, the researchers could see how communal coping—the teamwork approach—changed and how its importance shifted over time.

Understanding how couples manage diabetes together is important because type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition that affects not just the person diagnosed but their whole family. Most diabetes research focuses on individual behavior, but this study recognizes that real life involves relationships. By measuring actual daily experiences through diaries rather than just asking people to remember, the researchers got a clearer picture of what really happens. The 5-year follow-up is particularly valuable because it shows whether benefits last and how things naturally change over time.

This study has several strengths: it followed the same couples over 5 years (which is rare and valuable), it included both White and Black participants (making results more representative), and it used detailed daily diary information rather than relying on memory. The study measured multiple important outcomes (mood, diet, blood sugar control) rather than just one thing. However, the sample size of 99 couples is moderate, and the study only included couples in relationships, so results may not apply to single people with diabetes. The study was published in a well-respected psychology journal, which suggests it met high scientific standards.

What the Results Show

The main finding was that communal coping—the degree to which couples worked together on diabetes management—naturally decreased over the 5 years. This means that even though couples started out working together after diagnosis, they gradually did less of this teamwork as time went on.

Despite this decrease, the benefits of working together actually became stronger over time. When researchers looked at the data, they found that couples who maintained higher levels of teamwork had better emotional outcomes (better mood, less stress) and better diabetes management (especially diet adherence) at the 5-year mark compared to the early period. This suggests that while teamwork naturally fades, keeping it strong becomes increasingly important for health.

The study found two types of teamwork were important: ‘shared appraisal’ (talking together about the diabetes and what it means) and ‘collaboration’ (actively working together on diabetes tasks). Both types were linked to better emotional well-being and better diet adherence. Couples who maintained this teamwork also reported more positive interactions with each other and better overall coping with stress.

The study also looked at blood sugar control and glucose checking habits. Couples with stronger teamwork tended to check blood sugar more regularly and maintain better diet adherence. Interestingly, the connection between teamwork and these specific diabetes behaviors was less consistent than the emotional benefits, suggesting that the psychological benefits of working together may be more reliable than the direct effects on blood sugar numbers. The research also found that couples experienced fewer negative interactions when they maintained communal coping, which is important for relationship quality and long-term health.

This study builds on previous research showing that communal coping is beneficial for health. Earlier studies had suggested that working together as a couple improves outcomes, but most of that research was short-term. This 5-year study confirms those benefits while adding new insight: the importance of maintaining teamwork actually increases over time. The finding that communal coping naturally decreases is new and important—it suggests that couples need to actively work to maintain this teamwork rather than assuming it will continue naturally.

The study only included couples in committed relationships, so results may not apply to single people with diabetes or those without family support. The sample was relatively small (99 couples) and included only people who were willing to participate in a long-term study, which might mean they were more motivated than the general population. The study measured communal coping through self-report diaries, which means people’s answers depend on their memory and honesty. The research doesn’t prove that teamwork causes better health—it shows they’re connected, but other factors could be involved. Additionally, the study didn’t measure whether couples received any specific interventions or counseling about working together, so we don’t know if these results would be different with professional support.

The Bottom Line

If you have type 2 diabetes and are in a relationship, actively involve your partner in your diabetes management. This means: (1) talking openly about your diabetes and how it affects you, (2) making decisions about diet and exercise together, (3) supporting each other through challenges, and (4) celebrating successes together. These practices appear to improve both emotional well-being and diabetes control. The evidence is moderate to strong for emotional benefits and moderate for direct diabetes management benefits. If you’re struggling to maintain this teamwork over time, consider asking your doctor about couples counseling or diabetes education programs designed for partners.

This research is most relevant for people with type 2 diabetes who have a committed partner or family member involved in their care. It’s also important for healthcare providers, diabetes educators, and therapists who work with people managing diabetes. Partners and family members should care because they play an important role in health outcomes. This research may be less directly applicable to people managing diabetes alone, though the principles of seeking social support still apply. People with type 1 diabetes or other types of diabetes may find some insights useful, but this study specifically focused on type 2 diabetes.

The benefits of communal coping appear to develop relatively quickly—the study found positive effects in the early diary period (1-2 years after diagnosis). However, the most important finding is that maintaining this teamwork over years (the study followed people for 5 years) becomes increasingly valuable. You shouldn’t expect overnight changes, but consistent teamwork over months and years appears to support better emotional health and diabetes management. If you start working more closely with your partner on diabetes management, you might notice improved mood and stress levels within weeks to months, with better diet adherence and blood sugar control potentially following over a longer timeframe.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track ’teamwork moments’ weekly: count how many times you and your partner discussed diabetes management, made a health decision together, or supported each other with diet/exercise. Aim for at least 2-3 meaningful teamwork interactions per week. Also track your mood on a 1-10 scale and note whether you followed your diet plan, to see if weeks with more teamwork correlate with better mood and adherence.
  • Use the app to set weekly ‘diabetes check-in’ reminders for you and your partner to discuss: (1) how you’re feeling about your diabetes management, (2) what’s working well, (3) what challenges you’re facing, and (4) how you can support each other that week. Make these conversations positive and collaborative rather than critical. The app could send both partners the same reminder and allow them to share responses with each other.
  • Over 3-6 months, track the frequency of communal coping activities (shared discussions, collaborative decisions, mutual support) alongside mood scores and diet adherence. Look for patterns: do weeks with more teamwork correlate with better mood and better diet choices? Use this data to identify what types of teamwork work best for your relationship and adjust accordingly. Set a monthly review where you and your partner look at the data together and celebrate successes or problem-solve challenges.

This research describes associations between working together as a couple and better health outcomes in type 2 diabetes, but it does not prove that teamwork directly causes better health. Individual results vary, and this study included only couples in committed relationships. This information is educational and should not replace advice from your doctor, diabetes educator, or mental health professional. If you have type 2 diabetes, work with your healthcare team to develop a personalized management plan. If you’re experiencing relationship difficulties that affect your diabetes care, consider speaking with a therapist or counselor. Always consult your healthcare provider before making significant changes to your diabetes management routine.