Abstract

PINZON-ROCHA, María L; APONTE-GARZON, Luz H  and  HERNANDEZ-PAEZ, Ruth F. Caregivers' experience on dealing with diabetes mellitus type II. Orinoquia [online]. 2013, vol.17, n.2, pp.241-251. ISSN 0121-3709.

People with diabetes represent a significant burden to health systems as well as to the informal caregivers at the domiciliary level. At the present time care offered by informal caregivers is recognized as an important element for obtaining and maintaining metabolic control in diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience lived by informal caretakers in dealing with Type 2 Diabetes, which allowed knowing realities of coexistence with the illness, to discover meanings and caregivers' perspectives in their role in order to maintain the best possible health conditions of people with this disease. The study was phenomenological, with in depth interviews to establish expressions of the phenomenon of interest and to identify significant elements of their perspectives about everyday care. A convenience sample was used (n=15) conformed by informal caregivers residents in Villavicencio, Meta. Information was analyzed according to Colaizzi method, and analysis categories were determined related to understanding of the illness, practical of daily care, perception of the illness and necessities of family and social support. Each one of these categories represents the daily experience of caring for people with type 2 diabetes. Results showed cohabiting and managing the diabetes situation is a complex reality in most of the studied caregivers due to the lack of understanding of the disease, to the care guided by scientific and popular knowledge, feelings of anguish and uncertainty due to disease variability and difficulty in its management, and lack of family and social support to adopt and maintain lifestyle changes.

Keywords : Caregivers; Diabetes mellitus; Health education.

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