Experiences of people living with diabetes in Quthing
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Date
2025-07
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Publisher
National University of Lesotho
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus constitutes a significant and escalating global health challenge,
necessitating a comprehensive investigation into the experiences of individuals
grappling with this chronic condition. The diagnosis of diabetes presents a multifaceted
challenge for patients, encompassing physiological, psychological, and socio-economic
dimensions that warrant in-depth exploration. In Lesotho, a paramount concern revolves
around the suboptimal adherence to recommended self-care practices among
individuals living with diabetes, coupled with a noticeable gap in comprehensive
knowledge pertaining to effective self-management strategies. The study objectives
were to determine whether living with diabetes was a biographical disruption to people
living with it and to explore the health seeking behaviour of people living with diabetes.
The study employed a qualitative research approach and used a case study design to
explore the experiences of people living with diabetes. The study population was males
and females living with diabetes and residing in Quthing aged forty years and above. A
sample of 15 people who had been diagnosed with diabetes for at least two years was
selected purposefully with the aid of snowball sampling. An interview guide was used in
the semi-structured interviews that were then transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis
was used to analyse the study findings.
The study’s results show that living with diabetes complicated participants’ lives, as they
had to adjust their lifestyles after diagnosis. The results also revealed that participants
sought medical help because of knowledge of the disease, presence and severity of
symptoms of the condition. Adherence, compliance, complementary and alternativemedicines were also reported to be amongst approaches used in diabetes
management. Participants indicated that they managed diabetes using oral medication
and insulin injection while also complementing them with lifestyle modifications such as
diet adjustment and physical activities.
The study concludes that the diagnosis of diabetes emerged as a significant
biographical disruption, demanding adjustments to daily routines, lifestyles, and self-
perceptions. Participants demonstrated a multifaceted interplay of factors influencing
their health-seeking behaviours, incorporating disease knowledge, symptompresentation, and perceived severity, all of which collectively shaped their decisions to
seek medical care and engage with healthcare providers in the management of the
condition. Adherence to prescribed treatments and compliance with medical advice
reflected the assorted strategies taken by individuals in their pursuit of glycaemic control
and overall well-being.
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Keywords
Diabetes Mellitus, adherence, health-seeking behaviour, chronic illness, health challenges, Quthing