'I need someone to believe in me and walk the journey with me': A qualitative analysis of preferred approaches to weight management discussions in clinical care among adults with type 2 diabetes

Experiences and Acceptability of a Weight Loss Intervention for Diabetes (Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial-DiRECT) in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Qualitative Study within a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

The Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) demonstrated that substantial weight loss and remission from type 2 diabetes can be achieved with low-energy total diet replacement and behavioural support. However, the acceptability of the DiRECT intervention in diverse populations with strong cultural emphases on food and shared eating remains unclear. We conducted a qualitative study nested within a pilot randomised controlled trial of DiRECT in one Māori (the Indigenous people of New Zealand) primary care provider in Aotearoa New Zealand. Participants with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, obesity, and a desire to lose weight were randomised to either dietitian-supported usual care or the dietitian-supported DiRECT intervention for twelve months. The DiRECT intervention included three months of total diet replacement, then food reintroduction and supported weight loss maintenance. At three and twelve months, semi-structured interviews explored the acceptability of DiRECT and participants' experiences of each intervention. Interview transcripts from 25 participants (aged 48 ± 10 years, 76% female, 78% Māori or Pacific) at three months and 15 participants at twelve months were analysed. Participants viewed their pre-enrolment selves as unhealthy people with poor eating habits and desired professional weight loss support. For DiRECT participants, the total diet replacement phase was challenging but well-received, due to rapid improvements in weight and health. Food reintroduction and weight loss maintenance each presented unique challenges requiring effective strategies and adaptability. All participants considered individualised and empathetic dietetic support crucial to success. Sociocultural factors influencing success were experienced in both interventions: family and social networks provided support and motivation; however, eating-related norms were identified as challenges. The DiRECT intervention was considered an acceptable approach to weight loss in participants with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes with strong cultural emphases on food and shared eating. Our findings highlight the importance of individualised and culturally relevant behavioural support for effective weight loss and weight loss maintenance.

Experiences of living with overweight/obesity and early type 2 diabetes in Singapore-a qualitative interview study

OBJECTIVES

To understand the lived experience of adults with overweight/obesity and early type 2 diabetes in a modern urban environment, and the interrelations among the various aspects of these experiences and participants' attitudes to weight management.

DESIGN

Qualitative inductive approach to analysing data thematically from semistructured interviews and interpreted from a socioecological perspective.

SETTING

Primary care clinics located in northern and central Singapore.

PARTICIPANTS

21 patients between 29 and 59 years old who are living with overweight/obese (Body Mass Index of 25.3-44.0kg/m2) and type 2 diabetes for 6 years or less.

RESULTS

The main themes - everyday life, people around me and within me - pointed to a combination of barriers to weight and health management for participants. These included environmental factors such as easy physical and digital access to unhealthy food, and high-stress work environments; social factors such as ambiguous family support and dietary practices of peers; and individual factors such as challenges with self-regulation, prioritising work, dealing with co-existing medical conditions and the emotional significance of food. While lack of motivation and cultural dietary practices are hard to change, a problem-solving attitude, and presence of role models, may enable behaviour change.

CONCLUSION

An exploration of the lifeworld of patients with overweight/obese and early type 2 diabetes revealed that work demands, dietary practices in the workplace and at home, and the easy availability of calorie-dense foods afforded by a technology-infused environment hindered the individual's efforts at maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle. Policy and initiatives promoting work-life balance as well as individualised interventions can support participants' stress management, and problem-solving capability for behaviour change. These barriers stemmed from the various domains of the environmental, interpersonal and intrapersonal but were interrelated. They underscored the need for an integrated approach to weight and diabetes management.

'No one ever asks about something that actually is relevant to my life': A qualitative study of diabetes and diabetes care experiences of young women with type 2 diabetes during their reproductive years

AIM

To understand the health needs, experiences, and views of women with type 2 diabetes in relation to diabetes, reproductive health experiences, and general wellbeing.

METHOD

A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Thirty-six women with type 2 diabetes (median age 37 years; age ranges 20-45 years; median diabetes duration 4.5 years), recruited through social media and charities in the UK (n = 23) and Turkey (n = 13). Video interviews (n = 28) were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Email interviews (n = 8) and transcribed video interviews were analysed using Framework Analysis.

RESULTS

Two overarching themes were identified: (1) Perception of self and identity, (2) type 2 diabetes care is not orientated to women's needs. These themes highlight that living with type 2 diabetes was negatively perceived by the women in terms of their self-identity and reproductive health. Women reported that the diabetes care provided was often not appropriate or relevant to their health needs, and neglected issues of relevance to them. The women voiced ideas for enhancing current care to reflect their health needs, in particular the need for more emotional and peer-based support.

CONCLUSION

Living with type 2 diabetes may negatively impact how women view themselves and how they relate to the roles they identify with such as, as a partner, mother, colleague. Current healthcare systems are not orientated to the specific needs of younger women with type 2 diabetes with limited opportunities to target their diabetes care around their health and wellbeing concerns and interests.

Women's perceptions of weight stigma and experiences of weight-neutral treatment for binge eating disorder: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

The detrimental effects of weight stigma are a growing concern as a contributor to negative physical and mental health outcomes, disparities in care, and healthcare avoidance. Research exploring the impact of weight-neutral healthcare is limited but suggests weight-neutral interventions are associated with positive psychological and behavioral outcomes. Little is known about patients' lived experiences receiving weight-neutral healthcare.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured interviews between Feb 5, 2019 and Feb 25, 2020 with 21 women (90% non-Hispanic white, mean age 49 ± 14.8 years) who had type 2 diabetes or prediabetes and high body weight (mean body mass index 43.8 ± 8.4, range: 30.2-63.9) and previously attended a specialized treatment program for binge eating disorder. We recruited individuals with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes who completed of >2 weeks of a specialized binge eating disorder treatment program with the ability to participate in an English-spoken interview and did not have cognitive impairment or severe psychopathology that would limit recall or engagement in the interview. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis and Nvivo software. The main outcome we studied was patients' lived experience in healthcare settings and in a weight-neutral eating disorder treatment program.

FINDINGS

Participants reported experiencing weight stigma in healthcare encounters and believed this decreased the quality of care they received. While participants frequently attempted to lose weight, they experienced embarrassment, internalized a sense of failure, and felt blamed for their weight and health conditions. In describing experiences within a weight-neutral paradigm, participants reported that helpful elements included consistency in the eating pattern (emphasizing adequate, varied, and nourishing intake), sufficient and specific education, and comprehensive support. Reported impacts included decreased binge episodes, experiencing less shame, and increased resiliency following treatment. Some participants experienced the weight-neutral treatment recommendations and the absence of the pursuit of weight loss as challenging.

INTERPRETATION

Weight-neutral treatment may improve psychological and behavioral outcomes regarding binge eating, and longitudinal, quantitative research is warranted. These findings are useful to decrease weight stigma in provider-patient interactions.

FUNDING

The Dudley Allen Sargent Research Fund, Boston University.

Impact of Clinical Pharmacist Diabetes Clinic on the Improvement of Health Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Subjects

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the improvement of HbA1c, lipid profile, blood pressure readings, and weight in type 2 diabetes at the clinical pharmacist diabetes clinic (CPDC) in ambulatory care clinic. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at a CPDC; the clinical pharmacist role was to follow-up the referred uncontrolled type 2 diabetes patients and providing comprehensive management. RESULTS: A total of 419 patients were included the study. The mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) age was 58.9 ± 0.59 years old. Sixty-two percent of the patients were female. At baseline, mean HbA1C ± SEM was 10.69% ± 0.06%, mean low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ± SEM was 2.66 ± 0.04 mmol/l. After 3 months of follow-up, HgbA1C had a statistically significant improvement by a reduction of 1.69% to be 9% ± 0.09% (95% confidence interval [CI] [1.50–1.87], p < 0.001). Moreover, mean HbA1C had a statistically significant improvement after 6 months of follow-up compared to baseline by 1.78% to be 8.9% ± 0.21% (95% CI [1.33–2.22], p < 0.001). LDL had a statistically significant improvement after 3 months by 0.24 mmol/l to be 2.42 ± 0.04 mmol/l (95% CI [0.15–0.35], p < 0.001) and after 6 months of follow-up by 0.28 mmol/l to be 2.38 ± 0.04 mmol/l (95% CI [0.20–0.36], p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results stated that the clinical pharmacist anticipated care is achievable and had significant effect in the reduction of HbA1C and LDL levels in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.