Peer support decreased acute care visits and hospitalizations for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and depressive symptoms but not for those without depressive symptoms, a new study found. The cluster-randomized controlled trial included adults with T2D who wanted help with self-management. Intervention participants received 1 year of peer support. Control participants received usual care. Researchers found:

• At baseline, half of the sample reported mild depressive symptoms, and one-fourth reported moderate depressive symptoms.
• 168 intervention (6 clusters) and 187 control (5 clusters) participants had follow-up data.
• In those with mild depressive symptoms, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) for hospitalization among intervention vs control was 0.26 per 10-patient years.
• The IRR for AC was 0.55 per 10 person-years.
• Findings were similar for those with moderate depressive symptoms.