Lived Experiences of Type 2 Diabetes with Irreversible Complications: A Qualitative Research

Abstract

Objective: Diabetes is a major health concern worldwide. Diabetic patients experience many issues that affect their lives. Poor self-care and compliance in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients cause chronic hyperglycemia and irreversible complications. The study aimed to explore the lived experiences of T2DM patients with irreversible complications.

Materials and Methods: The qualitative phenomenology study was conducted through a semi-structured interview. The collected data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke framework for thematic analysis. Participants included 15 T2DM with irreversible complications who were selected to conduct the study through purposive sampling in Zabol, Iran.

Results: Research findings were classified into three main themes "past negligence, future threat", "suffering from disastrous complications" and "complicated life with diabetes". Some of the sub-themes were as follows: being sorry for previous unhealthy behaviors, fearing the future with the disease, successive challenges of the disease, losing the importance of life, poverty, losing family and social communications, gradual involvement of body organs, and life and death.

Conclusion: Patients with no self-confidence are defeated by the disease and have no control over the conditions in different dimensions of life, considering the irreversible diabetes complications. Besides, patients need the support and attention of care providers and families to take the health-related behaviors, embrace the disease condition and move toward dominating the present situation.