Estilos de vida após o diagnóstico da Diabetes: caso dos pacientes da Associação Moçambicana dos Diabéticos (AMODIA)

Abstract

This exploratory research aimed to understand how patients from the Mozambican Diabetes Association (AMODIA) adjusted their lifestyles after being diagnosed with diabetes. The diagnosis acts as a turning point, triggering a process of identity reconfiguration, in which the individual begins to see themselves and be seen in a new light. The constant need to monitor blood glucose, dietary restrictions, and medication routines impose a bodily discipline that contrasts with previous practices, often creating a sense of rupture and disconnection from the social environment. The research involved thirteen individuals with diabetes who participated in interviews. The results indicated profound physical, emotional, and social impacts. In the anthropological context, these transformations reveal how individuals experience changes in their bodies and social relationships after the diagnosis, with effects extending beyond physiological concerns, deeply touching emotional and social spheres. Patients face economic difficulties, lack of access to medications, and inadequate nutrition, with adopted strategies including personalized meal plans, emotional support, and participation in educational activities.The research also highlighted the influence of cultural perceptions in diabetes management, with traditional practices often conflicting with Western medical treatments. In this regard, the relationship with sociocultural institutions, such as AMODIA, plays a significant role in emotional support, disease education, and integrating cultural practices with conventional medicine. Patients’ experiences emphasize the importance of social and family support in coping with the disease and adapting to the changes imposed by the diagnosis