This study will determine the feasibility and effectiveness of a monthly social support group along with a weekly peer-to-peer meeting in improving perceived level of social support, diabetes distress, and A1c profiles in patients with Type II diabetes mellitus, compared with standard care offered at British Columbia Diabetes (BC Diabetes).

This is a prospective, randomized, non-blinded comparative group clinical trial of 48 participants receiving social interaction in addition to standard diabetes care or standard diabetes care alone. All participants will have a baseline and 6 month follow-up visit where assessment of their A1C, diabetes distress, and social support will be performed.

Participants randomized to the social interaction cohort will meet on a monthly basis for a two hour group session designed to build social connections. In addition, participants will be paired with another study participant in this group, and will be asked to meet on a monthly basis for a minimum of 45 minutes. All participants in the social support cohort will continue to receive best standard diabetes management.

Participants in the control group will be treated with standard diabetes care. At the end of the 6-month study, they will have the opportunity to engage in the same social interventions offered to the social interaction group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Willingly provide your full informed consent to participate;
• Are at least 19 years of age;
• Have an established diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus;
• Have a Diabetes Distress Screening Scale (a score of 2-3 is considered moderate distress, 3-4 is considered high)
• Have a Social Provisions Scale score less than 60 (a score of 80-90 is considered high, 60-80 moderate and less than 60 sub-optimal)
• Have an A1c greater than 8.5% in the last 2 months (a score of 6-7 is considered optimal, 7-8 sub-optimal and >8.0 inadequate)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Are unable to easily communicate in oral and written English.
• Have a physical disability or psychiatric diagnosis which would limit the ability to participate in the study;
• Are a prisoner, or in pre-trial;
• Do not have a fixed address;

At the end of the study, anonymized participant data may be shared with other researchers wishing to undergo similar studies to assist with study design and implementation.