Learning Objective #1: Describe the lived experience of women who have been diagnosed with diabetes twice in a lifetime

Learning Objective #2: Explain the challenges women face when adapting to and managing type 2 diabetes

---

In this existential phenomenological study, in-depth interviews were used to obtain descriptions of the meaning of type 2 diabetes for women with a previous experience of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Thematic analysis of the transcripts revealed four main, interrelated themes: confusion-anticipation, responsibility-ownership, balancing- juggling and worry for self-others. The experience was contextualized by the existential grounds of time, body, world and other people. Findings suggested that the experience of having type 2 diabetes following a previous experience with GDM is different than previous studies that have described the experience of GDM and type 2 diabetes separately. The theme of responsibility-ownership was foremost and persistent in all interviews. Each woman took personal responsibility for developing type 2 diabetes, most often in conjunction with an inability to manage weight an/or find time for physical activity in their busy lives. Time was woven into every aspect of the journey beginning with the experience of gestational diabetes in the past, living with type 2 diabetes in the present and continuing with an outlook for the future of their own lives and the lives of their children.