Perceptions of Diagnosis of Diabetes among Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Patients – A Qualitative Study

This research aims to explore the contextual barriers and beliefs surrounding the recent diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II from the viewpoint of patients. Thirty-two individuals diagnosed with diabetes mellitus II were interviewed to understand the circumstances leading to their diagnosis and to identify any obstacles hindering early detection. Grounded theory qualitative methods were employed for the analysis of the interviews. The diabetes diagnosis in the interviewed patients commonly resulted from chance discovery, symptom recognition, or patient-driven initiatives. Despite having a familial predisposition to diabetes, many patients had limited awareness of diabetes symptoms before diagnosis. Frequently, symptoms were incorrectly attributed to other factors. Notably, concerns related to fear and trust were not prominent among these patients. There appears to be a lack of awareness among individuals with undiagnosed diabetes regarding the significance of reported symptoms. Clinicians need to remain alert to identify individuals at increased risk of diabetes, and the implementation of screening programs should be considered.