Mental Health and Relational Self-Management Experiences of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease

Self-management (SM) behaviors reduce disease burden from advancing diabetic kidney disease. From a parent study about patients’ transition experience to SM, this study report presents coping resources that support SM and barriers from two focus group interviews (n = 6). Ethnographic analysis identified two patterns: (a) mental health self-management characterized by coping, and (b) relational self-management characterized by social support. Practice implications include focused assessment of perceived social support and social network, dating advisement, and workplace management. Future study considerations include inquiry about diabetes and dating relationships and workplace resources for SM support.