Caregiver Role Strain In The Family

When a family member is diagnosed with T2D, dynamics in the family unit will inevitably change. The person with T2D will have additional attention placed on them due to different dietary needs, medication adherence responsibilities, and exercise regimens. Not all members in the family may be supportive of these lifestyle changes, which can make the diagnosis much more difficult to manage because of desire to please their loved ones. If lack of coverage from insurance companies is a factor in the person's healthcare, financial strain on the family may occur. Job status and income may be affected from the necessary time taken off to attend doctors appointments and diabetes education classes. A family's support and awareness of the medical situation that is a new reality for their loved one's life is of high importance and can either improve relationships or hurt them accordingly. Emotional, financial, practical, and material support are all ways in which a family member can help to decrease the stress of T2D in a person's life (de Lima Santos & Marcon, 2014). …show more content…
If the person with the diagnosis is a child and the parents have full-time jobs, it may seem impossible to adequately manage blood sugars, plan proper meals, and make sure their child is provided the amount of attention they need in order to lead a high quality life. An example of responsibility transference in relation to T2D diagnosis is blaming others for nonadherence because they are not living the way a person with diabetes needs to live, referring to exercise, medication adherence, and proper diet, and it is causing them to be noncompliant. This can be addressed by teaching the patient with T2D to view themselves as being responsible for their health, lifestyle choices, and autonomous in their disease process