Objective Explore acceptability of engaging family/friends in patients’ type 2 diabetes (T2D) self-management using text messaging. Materials and Methods Participants (N = 123) recruited from primary care clinics for a larger trial evaluating mobile phone support for T2D completed self-report measures and a hemoglobin A1c test and then had the option to invite an adult support person to receive text messages. We examined characteristics and reasons of participants who did/did not invite a support person, responses to the invitation, and feedback from patients and support persons. Results Participants were 55.9 ± 10.1 years old, 55% female, 53% minority, and 54% disadvantaged (low income, less than high school degree/GED, uninsured, and/or homeless). Participants who invited a support person (48%) were slightly younger, more likely to be partnered, and reported more depressive symptoms and more emergency department visits in the year prior to study enrollment as compared to participants who did not (all p Discussion Patients inviting a support person had higher need and thus may stand to benefit most. Most support persons were open to engagement via text messages. Conclusion Across race and socioeconomic status, text messaging may engage support persons to increase health-related support—particularly for patients with higher levels of need. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02409329.
