[Perceptions of people with diabetes about the disease: nursing contributions].

This study aimed to identify the perceptions of patients concerning diabetes. This is a descriptive exploratory study with a qualitative approach, which was conducted with 32 subjects, in a hospital in the city of Belem-PA, Brazil. The thematic content analysis was used, from which four categories emerged: Diabetes control: nursing in the self-monitoring of blood glucose; The diabetic individual and nursing: an interaction with self-care; Nursing consultations provided to diabetic individuals: an intervention in the health-disease continuum; Diabetes and its complications: fear of loosing functioning. It was observed that patients start self-care driven by the fear of losing their health, that is, fear forces the patient to practice self-care. Nurses are directly linked to diabetes control as they start providing care and guidance for patients who self-monitor their disease.