Objective.

The research aims to identify and describe the social representations of living with type 2 diabetes mellitus in beneficiaries of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social in the city of Cuautla, Morelos, Mexico.

Method.

A qualitative methodology was used taking the theory of social representations as an interpretative framework, we used a semi-structured interview as a data collecting technique; for the analysis we followed an open coding and axial process. 10 beneficiaries (9 women and 1 man) with an age range from 30 to 60 years old from the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social participated. Each phase was highlighted as part of the process an ethical care and respect for human dignity.

Results.

Among the main results, we were able to identify concepts based on the representation extracted from the participants’ discourse that manifests a structure of hierarchical links that emerge from the condition of patients associated with Diabetes as a disease, its control and medical care.

Conclusion.

The constructed representation from the patient’s proclamation colligates the disease as a negative element in the patient’s lifestyle and daily practices.

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