Self-management for blood sugar control among patients with with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe self-management for controlling blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Participants were all able to control their blood sugar. Their HbA1c was less than 7 for at least 1 year before becoming research participants. Eighteen patients with type2 diabetes were selected to this study. Data were collected during in-depth interviews between August 15, 2011 to December 6, 2011. Each interview lasted 30 minutes for each subject. In-depth interviews allowed the researcher to access to a wide variety of ideas, views, and experiences on diabetes self-management. Qualitative data were analyzed by using a content analysis. Results showed that self-management for blood sugar control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. consisted of 7 categories: (1) changing behavior from high to low calorie diet, (2) increasing physical activity, (3) coping with stress, (4) keeping doctor’s appointments, (5) taking medicine regularly, (6) having self regulation and (7) Receiving social support from family and others. All participants began the self-management by setting limitations on their food both in quantity and types of food. Then they began to exercise in their own various ways. They tried to keep their stress under control. As for appointments and medication, they followed the doctor’s order strictly because they believed that this would prevent complications. Recommendations: Diabetic health care team should care for patients individually in order to determine the need of each patient and to prescribe proper self-management.