Thirteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

African immigrants have been reported to have higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes than the general population in the UK. This is in addition to the poorer health outcome presented by this population. This calls for the need to explore the management of diabetes among this population, this is to help identify better management regime for this group. A qualitative methodology was adopted with specific focus on the use of constructivist grounded theory to provide theoretical explanation for the management process of diabetes. Twenty-five, semi-structured interviews were conducted among West African immigrants living with type 2 diabetes in London. Audio recordings were transcribed and analysed according to grounded theory methodology to generate the theoretical explanation for the management process. This study found important lifestyle influence on the management process of diabetes among this population while using the information to provide theoretical explanation for management of type 2 diabetes. The findings from this study highlights the need to consider the cultural and lived experiences before migration influence on type 2 diabetes management by healthcare practitioners during management recommendations for this group. This will help achieve better management regime which will greatly impact on the health outcome among this population group.