ABSTRACT
Background: Diabetes is one of the most challenging and burdensome chronic diseases of the 21st century. Adaptation to disease is a mental, multidimensional, interactive process and is influenced by social and cultural factors. It should be explained in the cultural context of each society with qualitative studies.
Aims: In this study, we explored the subjective experiences of adaptation to type 2 diabetes among Iranian patients.
Methods: This was a qualitative study using a grounded theory approach. Purposeful sampling was used initially, followed by theoretical sampling based on derived codes and categories as the sampling method. Twenty patients as main participants and 7 from the healthcare system and family members were selected based on a purposeful and theoretical sampling method. Data were collected through semistructured and deep interviews. Data were analysed using the approach of Strauss and Corbin simultaneous with data collection.
Results: Five categories that emerged from the data included: perceived threat of disease, reality compliance, comprehensive reconstruction, normalization of living with illness, and return to resources. Finally, data analysis on selective coding led to recognition of endeavour to reconstruction of life as the core variable. The core variable showed the way participants adapted to diabetes.
Conclusions: This study showed that the process of adaptation to diabetes has a dynamic nature in which participants make major changes in their cognitive, emotional and behavioural structures in order to have a normal life.