Ajustamento familiar no contexto do diabetes tipo 2 / Family adaptation in the diabetes type 2 environment

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2010

RESUMO

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is one of the main problems of public health nowadays. This disorder is incorporated into the family environment demanding adaptations from the individual who carries it and their relatives so that the required care is taken. Such demands have influence on the individuals and on their family once they feel responsible for adapting to this new reality in order to manage such required care. This adaptation refers to the continuous actions the family takes in order to live with diabetes and introduce the demands of the disorder into their lives and routine. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand the process of adaptation of the family facing the demands of diabetes type 2 in the family system. The theoretical reference of this study is based on the perspectives of the Family Systemic Approach and on some ideas on the human experience and the symbols of the Symbolic Interactionism. The Data-Based Theory is used as a research and data analysis method. Twelve families took part in this study and were divided into three groups that deal with diabetes: a group in the first five years of treatment, one in the period of six to ten years of treatment, and another in over eleven years of treatment. In order to collect the data, three meetings were held at the home of each family. The analysis of the data allowed us to identify four moments that go from the events that took place before the disorder was acquired up to when the family was dealing with the treatment making it possible to describe the familys course of action whilst in contact with diabetes. At a first moment, the family and the individual with diabetes notice some symptoms, believe they are temporary and take measures according to what they have learned through their life experience. As time goes by, they learn that these measures are not enough to get rid of the symptoms. They feel uncertain and insecure. These feelings make them seek health service. At a second moment, they seek health service and receive the confirmation of the diagnosis. The individuals believe that diabetes is some kind of punishment. They believe they acquired it because of some mistakes committed in the past, and that it is possible to be cured through faith or through pregnancy. At this moment, the measures taken are about following the therapeutic plan. The family reorganizes its routine in order to introduce eating habits which are coherent with diabetes and the medication into their day-to-day life. As they go through this reorganization, they face the difficulties of the daily life and seek alternatives based on their culture. At a third moment, the care is improved, that is, the individuals reinvent their strategies of dealing with the disorder according to their day-by-day experience. Their confidence increases since they know about the limits of the body and how to manage the disorder. At a fourth moment, there is a significant change in the way life is seen, that is, the fear and insecurity felt about the possibility of death still remain; however, such possibility is understood as something that belongs to aging and does not cause so much suffering and insecurity as seen in previous moments. Therefore, we can infer that knowing and understanding the moment the family is going through whilst in contact with the disorder, taking the feelings and beliefs gained while treating diabetes into consideration, favors planning and the consequent humane and efficient assistance to the individual with diabetes and their family.

ASSUNTO(S)

adaptation família diabetes mellitus tipo 2 family diabetes mellitus type 2 ajustamento

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