Long-term disease management needs of southern African Americans with diabetes

PURPOSE this qualitative study explored the issues, concerns, and needs of low-inco me, southern African Americans in managing type 2 diabetes over time. METHODS Two focus groups (N=22) were conducted with the target population to collec t data. Group sessions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Content an alysis was used to analyze the data. RESULTS The data revealed an overall theme of learning to live with diabetes, which consisted of 3 processes (1) symptom management, (2) making healthy choice s, and (3) emotional adjustment. This article focuses on the processes of s ymptom management and making healthy choices. Findings suggest that the seq uential processes of symptom management and making healthy choices occurred over time primarily through experiential learning in this population and w ere influenced by social support, caring and collaborative provider-client relationships, and access to resources and culturally sensitive supportive services. CONCLUSIONS Experiential educational methods that incorporate social support and access to resources may be more appropriate than the traditional didactic method of teaching diabetes self-care.