“I no longer feel that diabetes is the end of everything, but rather the beginning of a healthier lifestyle”: Experience of type 2 diabetes mellitus patient to achieve glycemic control
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Rifky Octavia Pradipta 1 2 * , Sylvia Dwi Wahyuni 1 , Hakim Zulkarnain 3 , Ferry Efendi 2 3 4 , Mei Chan Chong 5
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1 Department of Fundamental Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, INDONESIA2 Research Center in Advancing Community Healthcare (REACH), Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, INDONESIA3 Department of Advance Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, INDONESIA4 School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA5 Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Introduction: This study explored the experiences of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who achieved glycemic control.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was applied with 15 purposively selected participants from five primary health centers in Surabaya, Indonesia. Participants (8 women, 7 men; aged 40–68 years; diabetes duration 2–15 years) completed in-person semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: Five themes and 15 sub-themes were derived from the analysis: (1) moving between despair and hope, (2) perceptions of lifestyle changes, (3) social support, (4) coping mechanisms to reduce stress, and (5) barriers to glycemic control. These themes illustrate participants’ transition from initial denial and emotional struggle toward adaptation, empowerment, and sustained self-care.
Conclusion: Glycemic control was experienced as both clinical success and personal transformation. Healthcare providers should adopt holistic, patient-centered approaches. Policies that strengthen family engagement and community-based support may enhance self-management and improve quality of life for people with T2DM.

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Original Article

ELECTRON J GEN MED, Volume 22, Issue 6, December 2025, Article No: em705

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejgm/17498

Publication date: 03 Dec 2025

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