Experiences of the encounter with the diabetes team-a comparison between obese and normal-weight type 2 diabetic patients

Objective The aim of this study was to highlight and compare obese and normal-weight type 2 diabetic patients’ perceptions and reported behaviors in terms of their care encounter with the diabetes team. Methods Interviews were conducted with 28 diabetic patients. Qualitative content analysis was used as analysis method. Results The experiences revealed that when the care encounters took place from a health care perspective, there were no opportunities for individual support. For the obese diabetic patients, especially women, this gave rise to feelings of being stuck, defiance and shame, for those of normal weight, it created a sense of being left, despair and confusion. When encounters took place from the perspective of the individual, the diabetic patients need for support was fulfilled. For the obese diabetic patients this meant that the health care professionals recognised their needs and for those of normal weight, a feeling of security was created. Conclusions The results demonstrate differences in the experiences of obese and normal-weight diabetic patients’ men and women in terms of their encounters with the diabetes team. Practice implication Diabetic patients, especially the obese diabetic women, require tailor-made support provided by the health professionals in the diabetes team.