Developing a Conceptual Model to Understand the Nutritional Problems and Negative Impacts on Quality of Life among Chinese Patients with type 2 Diabetes: A Qualitative Study

Abstract BackgroundGreat challenges have been reported in China with respect to the largest number of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the poor nutrition management. It was generally agreed that healthy diet and regular physical activity could promote the management of diabetes, with emerging research indicating potential delay and prevention of T2DM and its complications. However, currently no conceptual model has been proposed regarding the nutritional problems and its relationship with quality of life among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. This study adopted a qualitative method in order to obtain a firsthand and an in-depth understanding about the nutritional problems and concerns among patients with type 2 diabetes, and explored the negative impacts of insufficient nutrition management on quality of life.MethodsTwenty-one adult patients with type 2 diabetes from five hospitals in the southwest of China participated in a semi-structured interview regarding the nutritional problems and negative impacts on quality of life among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. Recordings were transcribed verbatim and content analysis were adopted to identify themes. ResultsFive themes emerged from the analysis to represent the nutritional problems and negative impacts on quality of life among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes: knowledge about nutrition, social aspects of nutrition, cultural aspects of nutrition, behaviors and nutrition management, and health outcomes of nutrition.ConclusionsNutrition issues and its negative impacts on quality of life need to be considered in nursing care among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. Personal, social, cultural and religious factors should all be taken into consideration when promoting nutrition knowledge and behaviors.