A Qualitative Exploration of Diabetes Self-Management among Young People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Malaysia

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes self-management, an essential part of diabetes care, involves complex cognitive abilities such as performing medical, physical, and emotional management tasks. Nonetheless, little knowledge is available on how the young population with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Malaysia engages in self-management, despite the growing prevalence of T2DM in this group. Therefore, this study aimed to explore self-management behaviours among young people with T2DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with sixteen young people aged between 10 and 24 years old at two tertiary hospitals in Malaysia, and data were analysed thematically. RESULTS: The themes that emerged revealed that young people demonstrated different levels of activation in self-managing their T2DM, which can be grouped into proactive, adaptive, inadequate, and negligent. CONCLUSION: The young people in this study recognised the importance of diabetes self-management; however, they needed the support from caregivers, friends, and healthcare professionals to maintain emotional well-being and sustain daily diabetes self-management.