The Adult Individuals’ Experience with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) has become an epidemic in the United States and throughout the world. Within the United States, an estimated 20.8 million people have this deadly disease. DM2 is a fatal condition leading to hypertension, arthrosclerosis, heart disease, renal failure and other deadly afflictions. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the experience of adults living with DM2. The Phenomenological study’s design was utilized to interview and analyze 4 adults with DM2. Interviews were tape recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the Giorgi’s method. The results of the data analysis reveled four themes common amongst the participants. The themes were (a) Changing lifestyle; but where is the motivation (b) Dieting and exercising; actually doing it (c) Education; that was years ago and (d) Getting the diagnosis; and waiting for the signs and symptoms. These themes reveal a deeper understanding of living with DM2. Generalizations of these findings are limited to the participants in this study.