TY - JOUR
T1 - 'I accept his manhood is on life-support'
T2 - A qualitative understanding of the impact of diabetes on sexual relationships among men and women living with type 2 diabetes and their partners in South Africa
AU - van Pinxteren, Myrna
AU - Delobelle, Peter
AU - Levitt, Naomi
AU - Smith, Kirsten
AU - Majikela-Dlangamandla, Buyelwa
AU - McGrath, Nuala
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was conducted as part of the CHERISH programme, funded by an NIHR Research Professorship award (Ref: RP:2017‐08‐ST2‐008) to Prof. Nuala McGrath using aid from the UK Government to support global health research. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the UK government.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Diabetes UK.
PY - 2023/11
Y1 - 2023/11
N2 - AIMS: To explore the impact of diabetes on sexual relationships among men and women living with type 2 diabetes People living with type 2 diabetes (PLWD) and their partners in Cape Town, South Africa.METHODS: As part of a larger study developing an intervention to improve type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) self management, we conducted in-depth individual interviews with 10 PLWD and their partners without diabetes about experiences living with T2DM, between July 2020 and January 2021. We used inductive thematic analysis.RESULTS: Both PLWD and partners felt that their sexual relationships and desires changed post-diagnosis, in ways beyond biomedical issues. Although couples' reports on the quality of their sexual relationships were concordant, most participants had not communicated their sexual desires and concerns with each other, causing unhappiness and fears of disappointing or losing their partner. Participants felt uninformed about sexual dysfunction but had not discussed this with their healthcare provider, leading to increased anxiety.CONCLUSION: PLWD and their partners need more informational support to increase their understanding of diabetes-associated sexual dysfunction and to decrease fears and anxiety. Strengthening communication within couples on sexual issues may empower them to find solutions to problems experienced. This may improve couples' relationships and quality of life, and indirectly result in better self management of T2DM.
AB - AIMS: To explore the impact of diabetes on sexual relationships among men and women living with type 2 diabetes People living with type 2 diabetes (PLWD) and their partners in Cape Town, South Africa.METHODS: As part of a larger study developing an intervention to improve type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) self management, we conducted in-depth individual interviews with 10 PLWD and their partners without diabetes about experiences living with T2DM, between July 2020 and January 2021. We used inductive thematic analysis.RESULTS: Both PLWD and partners felt that their sexual relationships and desires changed post-diagnosis, in ways beyond biomedical issues. Although couples' reports on the quality of their sexual relationships were concordant, most participants had not communicated their sexual desires and concerns with each other, causing unhappiness and fears of disappointing or losing their partner. Participants felt uninformed about sexual dysfunction but had not discussed this with their healthcare provider, leading to increased anxiety.CONCLUSION: PLWD and their partners need more informational support to increase their understanding of diabetes-associated sexual dysfunction and to decrease fears and anxiety. Strengthening communication within couples on sexual issues may empower them to find solutions to problems experienced. This may improve couples' relationships and quality of life, and indirectly result in better self management of T2DM.
KW - diabetes intervention
KW - diabetes self management
KW - qualitative research
KW - relationships
KW - sexual health
KW - type 2 diabetes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85170659627&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/dme.15203
DO - 10.1111/dme.15203
M3 - Article
C2 - 37594410
VL - 40
JO - Diabetic Medicine
JF - Diabetic Medicine
SN - 0742-3071
IS - 11
M1 - e15203
ER -