Psychosocial Experiences of Patients with Type -2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Study at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease resulting from the body’s inability to produce and utilize insulin effectively. Living with type -2 diabetes mellitus has been associated with several challenges. Identification of these challenges would help in holistic healthcare provision for persons living with type-2 diabetes mellitus. This study explored the lived experiences of persons living with type-2 diabetes mellitus in Accra by examining their psychosocial experiences as well as how they cope with their condition. A total of 12 persons living with type-2 diabetes mellitus were purposively sampled and semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with the patients. The study used the exploratory descriptive approach to qualitative research. Data collected in this study was analyzed using interpretative content analysis developed by Polit & Beck (2005). Results from the study showed that type-2 diabetes mellitus has severe negative physical consequences on the lives of the patients in the form of low physical energy, fatigue and weight loss. Living with type-2 diabetes mellitus has been found to result in severe negative psychological consequences for the patients and the most prevalent of all are depression and anxiety. However, some of the patients in the study did not report symptoms of psychological problems since they reported that they are able to handle their condition. It was also found that living with type-2 diabetes mellitus has severe negative consequence on the economic lives of the patients in the form of job loss and lack of employment opportunities. Additionally, results showed that patients experience some negative social consequences of their illness in the form of social restrictions, isolation and stigmatization from the community members due to the severe weight loss which is misconstrued to be HIV. Finally, it was observed from the analysis of the narratives that the respondents use several coping strategies including support from their social networks, religion and self-care practices. It is therefore noted that living with type-2 diabetes mellitus has severe negative Psychosocial Experiences of Patients with Type -2 Diabetes. psychosocial consequences for the patients and healthcare personnel should look out for these challenges of patients in order to offer the needed support and care. Predictive factors of the psychological problems among persons living with type -2 diabetes mellitus should be explored using a larger sample size in the future studies. Similarly, from the findings of this study, there may be the need to do further research to explore how spirituality or religiosity in particular is used to manage a chronic disease like diabetes mellitus.