Invisible Struggle: Diabetes Self-Management Through the Eyes of Diabetic Individuals With Retinopathy

Individuals diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy may experience difficulties in performing daily life activities and maintaining diabetes self-management due to vision problems. This study aimed to conduct an in-depth investigation into challenges and needs experienced in diabetes self-management by individuals diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. This study employed a descriptive phenomenology study design. Data were collected from 13 diabetic patients through a questionnaire and semi-structured interview form, and were analyzed using the NVivo 12 program. When the qualitative data in the study were analyzed, two main themes were identified for diabetic individuals with retinopathy: daily struggles experienced during diabetes self-management and supportive requirements required for diabetes management. The daily struggles theme included the subthemes of psychological, treatment monitoring, physical activity, and nutrition, while the supportive requirements theme consisted of the subthemes of social support, diabetes technologies, lifestyle changes, and coping methods. Findings indicate that diabetic individuals diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy experienced significant difficulties in the areas of psychology, nutrition, treatment monitoring, and physical activity. They emphasized the need for coping methods and supportive resources for effective diabetes management.