The Mountain of Health: The Perceptions and Perceived Expectations of Youth Living With Type 2 Diabetes in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Through a Grounded Theory Study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore youth's perceptions of diabetes management.

METHODS: The study included 8 Manitoban youth with type 2 diabetes (n=7 girls). Each youth participated in a semistructured interview in person, via Skype or over the phone. The constructivist grounded theory methodologic approach guided the analysis of the data.

RESULTS: Discussions about diabetes and health and its management revealed 2 viewpoints: 1) youth's perceptions and 2) youth's perceptions of health-care providers' expectations. The Mountain of Health was used to conceptualize the complex nature of diabetes management. Youth perceived that health-care providers prioritized physical health-behaviour changes in order to achieve successful diabetes management. Conflictingly, many youth described their mental and emotional health as taking precedence over their physical health.

CONCLUSION: Future interventionists should be aware of the vast incongruence in patients' perceptions of health in type 2 diabetes and their perceptions of health-care providers' expectations during the development of interventions.