Self-Management of Diabetes in Low-Income Appalachian Women

Background Diabetes mellitus is a major health concern and the number of Americans diagnosed with the disease is quickly increasing, affecting all aspects of an individual’s life and requiring significant self-involvement. Little is known about how low-income Appalachian women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) manage their diabetes from day-to-day. This population struggles to effectively manage the illness as they desire for many reasons. The purpose of this study is to better understand the experiences of Appalachian women in self-managing diabetes so that health care providers can better meet the social and cultural needs of this unique population. Methods This study used a qualitative descriptive design. Data were collected by means of in-depth, semi structured interviews. The sample consisted of 5 low-income Appalachian women with T2DM who seek care at the Johnson City Community Health Center. The data analysis was completed by generating a set of themes from the narrative data. Results Three themes emerged from the interview data: Achieving Care with Limited Resources; Consistent and Involved Health Care Providers; and Family Support. Conclusion Life situations unique to this population can influence the self-management of T2DM. Financial difficulties hinder the overall care that they need and desire, but through consistent and involved care givers and family support, successful self-management can occur in spite of significant barriers. SELF-MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES 3