Exploring the Experiences of Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes in the Context of Alcohol Use and Lifestyle Change: A Phenomenological Study

The increased number of group memberships or the potential to develop new group memberships increases the likelihood of commencing and sustaining lifestyle changes. Also, healthcare professionals need to educate individuals with type 2 diabetes who consume alcohol to read, evaluate and interpret food and alcohol labels, and act upon policies regulating the food and alcohol industry. Health professionals need to empower individuals living with type 2 diabetes to develop new social group memberships. Furthermore, an integral component of the caring process is the co-construction of explanatory, sense-making and transformative narratives that justify and warrant lifestyle changes. Finally, health professionals need to re-envisage their healthcare roles and reshape how they employ information technology and integrate family in the lifestyle changes.