Lived Experiences of Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management in Wales

Strategic Insights -

A new study exploring the self-management of type 2 diabetes in adults living in Wales has identified a need for more person-centred, relational, and contextually sensitive models of care. The study, conducted by Bangor University, found that participants with type 2 diabetes experience self-management as a fluctuating, emotionally charged process shaped by personal motivation, social relationships, cultural expectations, and structural constraints such as limited access to education, fragmented care, and rural isolation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study used interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to capture in-depth insights into individual experiences of type 2 diabetes self-management in adults living in Wales.
  • Ten in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for at least 6 months, exploring their perceptions of their condition and self-care practices within the context of their everyday lives.
  • Four interrelated themes emerged from the study: perceptions of diabetes, practices of self-care, barriers to sustained engagement, and the emotional and practical work of maintaining behaviors.
  • Participants described self-management as a complex process influenced by personal, social, and structural factors, highlighting the need for more person-centred and contextually sensitive care.
  • The study concluded that supporting individuals with type 2 diabetes requires more than providing information and instruction, but demands empathy, continuity, and services that respond to the lived complexity of managing the condition.

Sion Williams, School of Health Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK, was one of the researchers involved in the study. Other researchers included Amandeep Kaur and Simon Bishop.

Statistics:

  • 10 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults living in Wales who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for at least 6 months.
  • The study was conducted in Wales, which has the highest prevalence of diabetes in the United Kingdom.
  • The study was published in Diabetic Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal.

Sources:

  • Beyond compliance: Lived experiences of type 2 diabetes self-management in Wales. Diabetic Medicine, 2025.
  • NewsRx. Study Data from Bangor University Provide New Insights into Type 2 Diabetes (Beyond compliance: Lived experiences of type 2 diabetes self-management in Wales). Diabetes Week. October 20, 2025; p 664.