Wavering Diabetic Diet: “I Break the Diet and Then I Feel Guilty and Then I Don’t Go Back to It, In Case I Feel Guilty Againâ€

Margaret Amankwah-Poku

SAGE Open, 2020, vol. 10, issue 1, 2158244020914577

Abstract: This study aimed at understanding the experiences of maintaining good dietary self-care among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the meaning of negative emotions in the context of dietary self-care. Thirteen type 2 diabetes patients from an Endocrinology and Diabetes Department in the West Midlands region, United Kingdom, were interviewed to explore experiences of dietary self-care and negative emotions. Transcripts were analyzed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis approach. Three main themes emerged: (a) dietary self-care: a constant challenge, (b) negative emotions: a cause and a consequence, and (c) coping with negative emotions and living with “the diet.†Situations involving poor dietary self-care were identified to understand the context of negative emotions. Perceived dietary restrictions resulted in frustration, anger, and depression, while maintaining dietary self-care resulted in irritation, annoyance, regret, guilt, anger, and depression. The consequence of poor dietary self-care was frustration, depression, and anger, which further resulted in poor dietary self-care, creating a cycle of poor dietary self-care and negative emotions. This reflected the wavering nature of participants’ dietary maintenance. Coping with these negative emotions and poor dietary self-care involved rationalizing and/or acknowledging the importance of maintaining good dietary self-care. Findings showed negative emotions are perceived to impact dietary self-care and diabetes control. Health care providers should incorporate the understanding of experiences of negative emotions in dietary education and cognitive behavioral interventions should be offered to manage negative emotions.

Keywords: type 2 diabetes; dietary self-care; negative emotions; qualitative; interpretative phenomenological analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:sagope:v:10:y:2020:i:1:p:2158244020914577

DOI: 10.1177/2158244020914577

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