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Eating out, lack of social support and high-risk lifestyles are just some of the barriers that stop patients with type 2 diabetes from controlling their condition.  Diabetes is a chronic condition and patients need to modify their lifestyle on a longterm basis to cope with it.  Patients who receive support from family, friends and professionals appeared to handle self-care better than those who did not. Care was more effective when patients and healthcare providers worked together to devise treatment plans that patients could stick to.

Eating out in restaurants was a frequently mentioned problem and being offered inappropriate food when visiting others was also an issue.  Attitudes toward exercise, physical limitations and discomfort prevented people from taking regular exercise.

Patients often lack knowledge about their condition and don't always understand the relevance of diet and care plans. Optimum Health & Nutrition helps you to understand your condition better.

There are various barriers to achieving optimal self-care in type 2 diabetes, and one of these is the patient's lack of empowerment, motivation and involvement in their treatment.