What Does it Mean to be At-risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes? Family Matters

Family history of type 2 diabetesis likely to impact individual perception of risk and subsequent behavior change. The purpose of this study was to explore health care provider and at-risk individual perceptions of family history risk status in the context of the self-regulatory model of illness through qualitative interviews. Participants discussed cause, consequences, and control of risk. Health care providers described various aspects of risk perception, while at-risk individuals predominantly discussed cause. In relation to type 2 diabetes risk and family history, providers should dispel messages of inevitability, engage in conversations concerning consequences, and provide education concerning cause.