The Lived Experience of Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetes-Related Distress.

The objective of the current phenomenological study was to describe how diabetes-related distress might be uniquely experienced by older adults (age ≥65) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Interpretive phenomenology guided the research design and analysis. Everyday life experiences of living with T2DM and elevated diabetes distress were investigated with interpretive interviews. The most prevalent lived experiences were strained relationships with health care providers, guilt, fear, loneliness, and forgetfulness. These experiences created challenges in managing diabetes and increased diabetes-related distress. Improving knowledge regarding the lived experience of older adults with diabetes-related distress may allow health care providers to tailor treatment to this population, thus improving outcomes. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 46(3), 37-44.]. PMID: 32083700 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Journal of Gerontological Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: J Gerontol Nurs Source Type: research