DIABETES-RELATED DISTRESS EXPERIENCED BY SAUDI ADULTS WITH TYPE TWO DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Background: Living with a chronic condition such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and adhering to its complex treatment regimen strongly affect patients’ psychological well-being as well as their physical health. Diabetes-related distress (DRD) is a common issue, affecting 40% of DM cases, but it often goes unnoticed and untreated. Despite the high prevalence of DM in the Saudi population, DRD has received little research attention. Purpose: This study explored the lived experience of DRD among Saudi adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Philosophical Underpinnings: A transcendental phenomenological qualitative approach guided by the interpretivist–constructivist paradigm was employed to gain an understanding of DRD from the lived experiences of Saudi adults with T2DM. Methods: Purposive and snowball sampling were used to select participants, and the data analysis was guided by Moustakas’s transcendental phenomenology. Results: Five themes emerged from the experiences of 14 Saudi adults with DRD: living a restricted life, fearing the unknown, feeling frustrated, feeling ignored by healthcare professionals, and self-soothing. The essence of the experience, derived from a synthesis of participants’ descriptions, was Resilience to DRD through thriving instead of despairing. The transactional theory of stress and coping provided further insights to study’s findings. Conclusions: The study revealed that despite their restricted life, fears of the unknown, feelings of frustration, and being ignored by healthcare professionals, Saudi adults with T2DM find ways to calm themselves and overcome adversity. The findings highlight the importance of a holistic approach to diabetes care: healthcare providers should screen for DRD and develop care plans that support individuals in managing their T2DM. More research is needed to explore factors associated with DRD in depth to formulate effective medical and psychosocial supportive interventions.