Diagnosis of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Diagnosis of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Introduction: the way a chronic disease diagnosis is confronted is shaped by meanings and values constructed over the course of one's life.
Objective: to explore, through a hermeneutic interpretation, the impact of a Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) diagnosis on the lived experiences, challenges faced, and reported dietary patterns of adults and older adults.
Methodology: qualitative study with a hermeneutic phenomenological approach and exploratory scope. Participants were adults and older adults diagnosed with T2DM. A qualitativ convenience sampling method was used based on the saturation of meanings. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews, and Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis was employed as the analytical methodology. Researcher triangulation was performed to enhance interpretive richness and validate the findings. The study received approval from an ethics committee.
Results: participants' accounts showed that perceptions of the impact of the diagnosis on lived experiences and dietary patterns varied according to personality and sociocultural context. While diet was recognized as an important component of non-pharmacological treatment, continuity over time complicates adequate management of the disease and its care.
Conclusions: a T2DM diagnosis influenced the meanings and interpretations individuals attributed to their experiences and the ways they faced the challenges of the disease. Dietary patterns were adapted, modified, or maintained according to individual experiences and circumstances.