Plenty of Sickness

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to (1) describe facilitators and barriers to self-care for African Americans with type 2 diabetes living in a rural community, (2) compare experiences of men and women, and (3) solicit recommendations for programs of care. METHODS: Focus groups with small numbers of men and women (n = 7) were held to explore facilitators and barriers to self-management. Groups were led by moderators of the same gender and race as participants. Data from these information-rich cases were analyzed thematically using FolioViews and Inspiration software. RESULTS: Final categories included "being diagnosed," "diabetes as betrayal by the body," "provider-individual-family relationship," "self-management," and "difficulty getting help." Although limited by sample size and methodology, results indicate differences by gender that require additional investigation. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of self-care patterns is foundational to designing culturally appropriate interventions and programs of care for rural African Americans living with diabetes.