Middle-aged Appalachians living with diabetes mellitus: a family affair.

Understanding the experiences of low-income Appalachians living with type 2 diabetes mellitus is needed to provide culturally sensitive care. For this qualitative study, 13 adults were recruited from 2 low-income clinics in northern West Virginia through purposive sampling. Through in-depth interviews with the participants, 4 themes were identified: (1) achieving a balance between diet and family needs, (2) adapting to fluctuations in energy levels, (3) balancing family relationships with self-reliance, and (4) dealing with the uncertainty of future health. Nurses working with low-income adults in Appalachia need to provide family-centered diabetes education to meet the cultural needs of this group.