Psychosocial reactions of men with type I and type II diabetes

The purpose of this study was to explore the psychosocial experience of men with diabetes (Type I and II). Five men with diabetes participated in the study. Two of the participants had Type I diabetes, and the other three participants had Type II. The study involved a taped, unstructured interview that asked the participants to describe their experience living with diabetes. This interview was then transcribed and analyzed for themes. Theme statements were then generated and clustered into an exhaustive description of the experience of living with diabetes. Participants were then presented with these findings for validation. The essential structure, or basic nature, of the experience of these men with diabetes was formulated. The findings of this study were discussed in relation to implications for further research and in relation to counselling men with diabetes. To gain an understanding of life with diabetes from the perspective of those who have experienced it an existential-phenomenological approach was used. Twentynine (29) themes and six (6) categories emerged from the data utilizing this method. The categories include: emotional reactions; physical concerns; issues related to medical personnel; coping mechanisms; sexuality; and, other concerns.Education, Faculty ofEducational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department ofGraduat