Nutrition information for people with Type 2 diabetes: Poster presentation at the University of Hertfordshire Health and Social Work Conference July 2017

Research suggests that people with type 2 diabetes consider information about diet obtained from their GPs the most important (Meyfroidt et al., 2013). However there is limited research exploring their day to day experiences of nutrition information. The aim of this study was to explore the day to day nutrition information experiences of people with type 2 diabetes. The method previously reported elsewhere (McClinchy, Dickinson, Wills, 2016) incorporated a mixed methodology utilizing the diary:diary-interview approach (Zimmerman and Weider, 1977). Twenty participants (nineteen with type 2 diabetes) living in the East of England kept a diary of their nutrition information experiences for one month and were then interviewed about their experiences (for approximately one hour) using a semi-structured approach. Diaries were typed up in word by the researcher and interviews were transcribed verbatim. Anonymised data were uploaded into NVIVO 11 (QSR®). Data were coded and analysed for emergent themes. These included information emphasizing specific nutrients, experiences managing the diet and searching for information. Instances of negative information experiences appear to be more frequent than positive experiences and were often associated with health care professionals. People with type 2 diabetes need further support in helping them to access and interpret the nutrition information they need and health care professionals need training in the delivery of nutrition information to better support people with type 2 diabetes.