Social representations and food practices of people with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is a chronic disease characterized by inadequate insulin levels resulting in hyperglycemia. Due to the requirement of constant glycemic control, chronicity and lack of cure, the person with DM2 remains linked to the health system for decades and needs continuous attention focused on the integral care provided by family health, actions to promote, monitor and prevent complications of DM2. The complexity of caring for people with DM2 requires an interdisciplinary approach with health professionals open to dialogue and willing to plan consultations and interventions appropriate to the specific needs of people with DM2 focused on self-care and glycemic control actions. One of the ways to deepen the knowledge of the subjective view of the person with DM 2 is to seek their social representations. Social representation is the mental construction of reality, which enables the understanding and organization of the world, as well as guides the behavior of people. The purpose of this study is to present studies that address the social representations of people with type 2 diabetes in relation to disease and diet to understand the health education actions of this disease.