Dietary lifestyles and self-care practices among community-dwelling individuals with type 2 diabetes: A qualitative study

Background: Dietary management and self-care are core components of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management. However, these practices are deeply embedded within social, cultural, and family contexts, particularly in community settings. Understanding patients’ lived experiences is therefore essential for developing culturally responsive and sustainable nursing interventions. Objective: This study aimed to explore the perspectives and lived experiences of individuals with T2DM regarding dietary lifestyles and self-care within everyday community contexts in Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was employed. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 25 community-dwelling adults diagnosed with T2DM. Participants were purposively selected based on duration of illness and ability to communicate their experiences. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke’s framework. Results: Four overarching themes emerged: (1) The social and personal meanings of food, (2) dietary behavior modification within cultural and lifestyle constraints, (3) self-care experiences within family and social contexts, and (4) barriers and facilitators to effective self-care. Dietary management was shaped not only by biomedical knowledge but also by sociocultural norms, emotional meanings, family expectations, and community support systems. Conclusion: Dietary self-care among individuals with T2DM is a socially embedded and negotiated process. Nursing and public health interventions should adopt context-sensitive, patient-centered, and family-inclusive approaches that align with the lived realities of people with diabetes in community settings.