Exploring the Lived Experience of Food Insecure African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes Living in the Inner City

Abstract

Purpose: Despite evidence that food insecure African Americans with type 2 diabetes are at particularly high risk for poor health outcomes, there is currently a lack of information on their lived experience. This qualitative study aimed to identify chal\xadlenges, facilitators, and barriers to effective diabetes care for food insecure African Americans with type 2 diabetes residing in an inner city.Methods: In fall 2018, we conducted two focus groups attended by a total of 16 food insecure adults with type 2 diabetes residing in the inner city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A standardized moderator guide included questions to explore the role of food inse\xadcurity in managing diabetes, and facilitators that improve diabetes management within the context of food insecurity. Focus groups were audio recorded and recordings were transcribed by a professional transcription service. A grounded theory approach was used for analysis.Results: Six major challenges existed at the individual level (diet/nutrition, exercise, dia\xadbetes knowledge and skills, complications from diabetes, a family history of diabe\xadtes, and a preoccupation with food). Five major barriers and facilitators existed both internally and externally to the individuals (access to food, medications, stress, cost of health-related needs and religion/spiritual\xadity).Conclusions: This study identified multiple challenges, barriers, and facilitators to effec\xadtive care for food insecure African American adults with type 2 diabetes. It is impera\xadtive to incorporate this understanding in future work by using an ecological approach to investigate strategies to address food insecurity beyond a singular focus on access to food. Ethn Dis. 2021;31(4):527-536; doi:10.18865/ed.31.4.527