Learning Objective #1: Identify nursing diagnosis related to the lived experience diabetes

Learning Objective #2: Express needed changes in addressing teaching learning needs of the diabetes person

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Diabetes, a chronic disease, is the 6th leading cause of death in U.S. women between the ages of 20 and 45 and these women have demonstrated the most significant increase in type 2 diabetes in the years between 1997 and 2000. Women in this age group who have diabetes are at even greater risk of developing more aggressive cardiovascular disease along with other co-morbildities. A phenomenology research question, what is it like to live with diabetes, was asked of four women ages 26 to 44 with type 2 diabetes. Each has lived with diabetes for at least four years and as much as fourteen years and currently lives in Western North Carolina. Data analysis using the Listening Guide as described by Gilligan, Spencer, Weinburg, and Bertsch reveals that the liveed experience diabetes is hard, tiring, and not wanted. The rules, the lists, the carrying of "stuff" are a heavy burden. Loss and grief of their past healthy self is part of the coping with diabetes in these women's lived experience of diabetes.