Men and type 2 diabetes: how everyday knowledge remains unshared in gendered medical encounters

Purpose Managing everyday life with type 2 diabetes can be challenging. In particular, men considered vulnerable are often portrayed as lacking self-management. This paper challenges this assumption by highlighting the unheeded knowledge and self-care practices these men develop, and by exploring ho...

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Main Authors: Louise Søgaard Hansen, Anne-Louise Bjerregaard, Peter Bindslev Iversen, Nicole Thualagant
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2495379
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author Louise Søgaard Hansen
Anne-Louise Bjerregaard
Peter Bindslev Iversen
Nicole Thualagant
author_facet Louise Søgaard Hansen
Anne-Louise Bjerregaard
Peter Bindslev Iversen
Nicole Thualagant
author_sort Louise Søgaard Hansen
collection DOAJ
description Purpose Managing everyday life with type 2 diabetes can be challenging. In particular, men considered vulnerable are often portrayed as lacking self-management. This paper challenges this assumption by highlighting the unheeded knowledge and self-care practices these men develop, and by exploring how these are included in healthcare encounters at an outpatient clinic in Denmark. Methods Data were collected through observations of clinical practice and subsequent interviews with 12 men who have type 2 diabetes. A thematic analysis was conducted to explore their daily experiences of managing chronic illness and their encounters with healthcare professionals. Results Men considered vulnerable manifest important knowledge and strategies in managing type 2 diabetes in their daily lives, often perceiving the illness as barely present. Their encounters with healthcare professionals, particularly females, often draw on repertoires from previous experiences with (often female) care professionals and seem to follow a certain script for (female) carers encountering disadvantaged (male) care recipients. These dynamics frequently overlook the men’s lived experiences and self-management knowledge. Conclusion Men considered vulnerable develop important coping strategies and knowledge for managing type 2 diabetes in their everyday lives. However, their encounters with health professionals often perpetuate gendered assumptions and exclusion of their everyday experiences and knowledge.
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series International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
spelling doaj-art-b0ca9c23cdf9458eb5ba34fc05ed475d2025-08-20T03:52:57ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312025-12-0120110.1080/17482631.2025.24953792495379Men and type 2 diabetes: how everyday knowledge remains unshared in gendered medical encountersLouise Søgaard Hansen0Anne-Louise Bjerregaard1Peter Bindslev Iversen2Nicole Thualagant3Roskilde UniversityDepartment of Social, Work and Health Care ServicesSteno Diabetes Center SjaellandRoskilde UniversityPurpose Managing everyday life with type 2 diabetes can be challenging. In particular, men considered vulnerable are often portrayed as lacking self-management. This paper challenges this assumption by highlighting the unheeded knowledge and self-care practices these men develop, and by exploring how these are included in healthcare encounters at an outpatient clinic in Denmark. Methods Data were collected through observations of clinical practice and subsequent interviews with 12 men who have type 2 diabetes. A thematic analysis was conducted to explore their daily experiences of managing chronic illness and their encounters with healthcare professionals. Results Men considered vulnerable manifest important knowledge and strategies in managing type 2 diabetes in their daily lives, often perceiving the illness as barely present. Their encounters with healthcare professionals, particularly females, often draw on repertoires from previous experiences with (often female) care professionals and seem to follow a certain script for (female) carers encountering disadvantaged (male) care recipients. These dynamics frequently overlook the men’s lived experiences and self-management knowledge. Conclusion Men considered vulnerable develop important coping strategies and knowledge for managing type 2 diabetes in their everyday lives. However, their encounters with health professionals often perpetuate gendered assumptions and exclusion of their everyday experiences and knowledge.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2495379type 2 diabeteshealthcare encountersgendervulnerabilityself-care practices
spellingShingle Louise Søgaard Hansen
Anne-Louise Bjerregaard
Peter Bindslev Iversen
Nicole Thualagant
Men and type 2 diabetes: how everyday knowledge remains unshared in gendered medical encounters
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
type 2 diabetes
healthcare encounters
gender
vulnerability
self-care practices
title Men and type 2 diabetes: how everyday knowledge remains unshared in gendered medical encounters
title_full Men and type 2 diabetes: how everyday knowledge remains unshared in gendered medical encounters
title_fullStr Men and type 2 diabetes: how everyday knowledge remains unshared in gendered medical encounters
title_full_unstemmed Men and type 2 diabetes: how everyday knowledge remains unshared in gendered medical encounters
title_short Men and type 2 diabetes: how everyday knowledge remains unshared in gendered medical encounters
title_sort men and type 2 diabetes how everyday knowledge remains unshared in gendered medical encounters
topic type 2 diabetes
healthcare encounters
gender
vulnerability
self-care practices
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2495379
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AT peterbindsleviversen menandtype2diabeteshoweverydayknowledgeremainsunsharedingenderedmedicalencounters
AT nicolethualagant menandtype2diabeteshoweverydayknowledgeremainsunsharedingenderedmedicalencounters