[What teaching by telephone about insulin means for diabetes mellitus patients]

This study identifies what the telephone follow-up in the process of preparing and administering insulin means to patients with diabetes Mellitus (DM). This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, with 26 patients with type 2 DM using insulin and participating in a Brazilian program of capillary blood glucose self-monitoring at home, which uses telephone follow-up as a nursing strategy. Directed interviews were conducted in a single telephone contact, with questions based on Ogden and Richards' Theory of Meaning. The obtained meaning was related to the learning-teaching process and to the help perceived by the strategy (symbol), elements related to the management of insulin (referent), and to an acknowledgement of the telephone follow-up as convenience, tranquility, care, and a time for clearing up doubts (thought). We consider that the telephone followup is appropriate to instruct patients with DM in the use of insulin.