Introduction: Managing type 2 diabetes is essential for preventing complications and maintaining quality of life, but sticking to a management plan is often difficult. The Common-Sense Model (CSM) of illness representations provides a helpful framework for understanding how people's thoughts and feelings influence their health behaviours.
Purpose: This study aimed to explore how illness perceptions influence self-management behaviours in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 adults who have type 2 diabetes. Nine participants managed their condition well, while eight struggled with self-management. The researchers analysed the data thematically.
Results: Among participants who effectively managed their diabetes, key areas of the CSM included identity integration, perceived control, and coherence. The combination of a strong sense of identity, a clear understanding, and structured control created a support system for ongoing self-management and emotional regulation. Acceptance was essential in linking cognitive understanding with action, allowing insights into consequences and causes to become consistent self-management practices. On the other hand, those with less effective management were very aware of the timeline and consequences of their condition but showed low identity integration and coherence. Their emotions often felt overwhelming and demotivating, which led to inadequate processing. This lack of processing disrupted their control behaviours and coherence. It was concluded that awareness of the chronic nature and consequences of the condition was not enough for continuous self-management.
Conclusion: Programmes and interventions that focus on identity integration, enhanced control and improved coherence through learning about bodily responses, establishing routines, and encouraging emotional acceptance may facilitate self-management. Focusing on these areas could assist individuals who find it hard to turn their knowledge of the chronic nature and consequences of diabetes into ongoing behavioural control.