The “Life-World” trip of type 2 diabetes patients with allopathic treatment options: a triangulated qualitative investigation

Abstract

Background Patients with type 2 diabetes usually start treatment with oral hypoglycaemic medications once they have been diagnosed. They eventually require insulin injections. We looked into the experiences of such patients with allopathic treatment alternatives over the course of their journey. Methods The study was conducted using a qualitative inquiry (phenomenological approach triangulated with modified grounded theory) from July 2019 to January 2020. A total of 24 participants (11 men and 13 women) were recruited purposively and interviewed face-to-face until theoretical saturation was reached. QDA Miner Lite v2.0.9 was used to categorise the data. Results The majority of patients had no previous notions regarding their illness. They did not have an emotional reaction to being diagnosed. They were uncomfortable on oral hypoglycaemic agents because of uncontrolled blood glucose and gastrointestinal disturbances, which were thought to be the main causes for medication changes. Initial insulin treatment experiences included fear of injection pain, difficulty self-injecting, and a sense of last resort. Insulin’s effectiveness, ease of injection with a little needle, and lack of gastrointestinal discomfort were all key reasons in changing the patients’ minds about it. Patients have rigorously adhered to insulin since it was found to improve health and bring life. Conclusion The “life-world” journey of patients with type 2 diabetes with allopathic treatment options was started to be informed of the “unknown” (diabetes), which leads to the “ugly life” (with oral agents), and bridge to and living with the “terrible” (insulin), which was later found to be effective and perceived as “life.” KEY MESSAGES Patients with type 2 diabetes believed that life with oral hypoglycaemic medications was “boring.” The major reasons for switching to insulin were “uncontrolled blood sugar levels” and “gastrointestinal disturbances” brought on by oral medications. Insulin first terrified type 2 diabetes patients, but they eventually referred to it as “life.”