To live with insulin dependent diabetes

Abstract: Background:  Diabetes mellitus is a common disease and people with diabetes have doubled the last 20 years. Individual’s experiences in living with diabetes is useful to increase the understanding of persons with diabetes ability to manage, accept and possibilities to reconcile with a life with diabetes. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe person’s experiences of living with insulin dependent diabetes. Method: The study is a qualitative descriptive study with an inductive approach. Nineteen persons with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus was recruited from diabetic clinics at two hospitals in the middle of Sweden. The analysis was made with a qualitative content analysis. Findings: Time around the diagnosis living with diabetes was losing control of self and life. By flexible strategies they could regain control of self and life. By living in the present they found a way to live with illness as a part of life.  Conclusions: Persons with insulin dependent diabetes needed to develop flexible strategies for daily life. With the help of strategies and a positive attitude they could continuously re-evaluate their planning for outer form of reconciliation. The threat of future complications constitutes an obstacle to inner form of reconciliation.