Gender and the capacity of women with NIDDM to implement medical advice

This qualitative study of women with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitu s (NIDDM) examined constructions of their diabetes management and socio-fam ilial relationships as potential sources of support. Semi-structured interv iew data was collected from 16 women. The transcripts were analysed with th e aim of examining the ways in which Sender relations structured women's ac counts of health-related behaviours. Women talked about themselves as wives , mothers, being pregnant and parenting, and friends of other women in ways that demonstrated how caring for others impeded their capacity to care for themselves. Meeting the food preferences of husbands and dietary requireme nts of diabetic husbands were dominant themes in women's accounts of marria ge, and in various ways women justified their husbands' lack of support. Fu rthermore, the care of others during pregnancy and parenting was also an ob stacle to women caring for themselves. An awareness of the gender politics inherent within social and family contexts is crucial to improving the effe ctiveness of medical advice for diabetes management.