The purpose of this study was to describe the process by which persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus self-manage their disease. Diabetes, a chronic disease, requires complex, individual, long-term self-management. Grounded theory methods were used to develop a theoretical framework. Participation criteria included adults over 18 who had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus of one to two years and had participated in a Diabetes Self-Management Skills and Training (DSMT) program. A selective sample of 21 participants was recruited from health care facilities in Northeast Ohio.
Dealing with Type 2 Diabetes was identified as the psychosocial problem shared by participants. The psychosocial process for this problem was called Evolving Diabetes Self. The psychosocial process of Evolving Diabetes Self encompasses four phases with interrelated categories within each phase that impact the psychosocial problem of Dealing with Type 2 Diabetes. The four phases are as follows: (a) Getting the Diagnosis, (b) Realizing Options, (c) Making Decisions, and (d) Living the Consequences.
This study provided a theoretical framework for describing the processes by which individuals with type 2 diabetes manage their disease. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease requiring complex and lifelong changes. Health care providers are in an integral position to facilitate change from an acute care emphasis to a chronic care framework within organizations (insurance, hospitals, and out-patient departments) as well as to change policies and reimbursement protocols for care of diabetics.