<![CDATA[Background: Family support, particularly instrumental support, plays an important role in helping older adults with diabetes mellitus (DM) manage their blood glucose levels independently. Inadequate support may contribute to poor adherence to diabetes management and an increased risk of complications. This study aimed to determine the relationship between instrumental family support and blood glucose self-management among older adults with DM. Methods: This quantitative correlational study employed a cross-sectional design and was conducted in July 2025 in Sawangan Village, Batang Regency, Indonesia. The sample consisted of 39 older adults with DM selected using total sampling. The independent variable was instrumental family support, measured using a questionnaire that had been tested for validity and reliability. The dependent variable was blood glucose self-management, assessed using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test (two-sided), as 25% of the cells had expected counts below 5. The odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to estimate the strength of the association. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Supportive family support was reported by 27 participants (69.2%), and good self-management by 28 participants (71.8%). Instrumental family support was significantly associated with blood glucose self-management (OR = 16.00, 95% CI: 2.93-87.25, p = 0.001, Fisher’s exact test). Conclusion: Instrumental family support was associated with self-reported blood glucose self-management among older adults with diabetes mellitus. Family-based interventions to strengthen instrumental support may be considered, although their effectiveness was not assessed in this study. ]]>
