Perceived Symptoms in People Living with Impaired Glucose Tolerance

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify symptoms in people with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and describe their experiences of living with the symptoms which they related to their condition. Twenty-one participants, from a cross-sectional population-based study, diagnosed as having IGT, were invited for an interview. The interviews were analyzed in two phases by means of a manifest and latent content analysis. The narratives included seven categories of symptoms (and more than 25 different symptoms) presented by the respondents. This study shows that symptoms such as the patient's own interpretation of different perceptions in the body must be considered, as well as signs and/or objective observations. Symptoms ought to be seen as complementary components in the health encounter and health conversation. The results of this study indicate that health professionals should increase their awareness of the balance between the implicit and the explicit bodily sensations that individuals communicate. Further studies are needed.

The association between self-rated health and impaired glucose tolerance in Swedish adults: A cross-sectional study

“…A qualitative study [28] within the same cohort as the present study has previously found subjects with IGT to experience diabetes- related symptoms, such as fatigue, frequent urination, and thirst. Although qualitative studies are not designed to explore differences on a group level, one might speculate that men with IGT to a greater extent than women might be aware of such symptoms and as a consequence report poorer SRH.…”

‘The challenge to take charge of life with long‐term illness’: nurses' experiences of supporting patients' learning with the didactic model

“…Considering the importance of a pedagogical dialogue based on patients' stories (Persson & Friberg , Andersson et al . ), gaining insight into the actual situation and being aware of possible influences are crucial to learning. Nurses find these tools to be helpful in dialogues with patients.…”

Attitudes Regarding Participation in a Diabetes Screening Test among an Assyrian Immigrant Population in Sweden

“…It is important to diagnose T2D because of the expected large number of unreported cases [6] and its insidious course [7]. Moreover, it is preceded by impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) with vague symptoms [8, 9] but still with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Even if individuals with IGT have a sixfold higher risk of progression to T2D compared to individuals with normal glucose tolerance [10], landmark studies have shown that lifestyle interventions can efficiently prevent progression to T2D in these cases [11].…”