Name: Selene Barb (Participant 1)
Demographic Form
Name: Selene Barb (Participant 1)
2000
Which year were you born?
What is your country of birth?
China
What is your gender?
Male
Female
Other (Specify.)
What is your marital status?
Not married,
married,
separated,
divorced,
widowed
I have worked in the healthcare field in the past
Yes
No
Student
Current occupation
Highest educational qualification
Graduate
Adelaide
What state or territory do you currently reside in?
Do you have type 2 diabetes (adult-onset diabetes) Y/N?
Yes
No
Do you have type 1 diabetes?
Yes
No
Demographic Form
Name: Martha Green (Participant 2)
1983
Which year were you born?
What is your country of birth?
United States of America
What is your gender?
Male
Female
Other (Specify.)
What is your marital status?
Not married,
married,
separated,
divorced,
widowed
I have worked in the healthcare field in the past
Yes
No
Operations Manager at Beach Hotel Seacliff
Current occupation
Highest educational qualification
Graduate
Adelaide
What state or territory do you currently reside in?
Do you have type 2 diabetes (adult-onset diabetes) Y/N?
Yes
No
Do you have type 1 diabetes?
Yes
No
Demographic Form
Name: Joe Geller (Participant 3)
1984
Which year were you born?
What is your country of birth?
Australia
What is your gender?
Male
Female
Other (Specify.)
What is your marital status?
Not married,
married,
separated,
divorced,
widowed
I have worked in the healthcare field in the past
Yes
No
Construction worker
Current occupation
Highest educational qualification
Graduate
Adelaide
What state or territory do you currently reside in?
Do you have type 2 diabetes (adult-onset diabetes) Y/N?
Yes
No
Do you have type 1 diabetes?
Yes
No
Demographic Form
Name: Ashton Gilbert (Participant 4)
1987
Which year were you born?
What is your country of birth?
Australia
What is your gender?
Male
Female
Other (Specify.)
What is your marital status?
Not married,
married,
separated,
divorced,
widowed
I have worked in the healthcare field in the past
Yes
No
Lawyer
Current occupation
Highest educational qualification
Post Graduate
Adelaide
What state or territory do you currently reside in?
Do you have type 2 diabetes (adult-onset diabetes) Y/N?
Yes
No
Do you have type 1 diabetes?
Yes
No
Demographic Form
Name: Curt Bing (Participant 5)
1994
Which year were you born?
What is your country of birth?
Australia
What is your gender?
Male
Female
Other (Specify.)
What is your marital status?
Not married,
married,
separated,
divorced,
widowed
I have worked in the healthcare field in the past
Yes
No
Civil Engineer
Current occupation
Highest educational qualification
Graduate
Adelaide
What state or territory do you currently reside in?
Do you have type 2 diabetes (adult-onset diabetes) Y/N?
Yes
No
Do you have type 1 diabetes?
Yes
No
Name Gender Nationality Marital Status Type 1 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes
Participant 1 Female China Unmarried No No
Participant 2 Female American Married No No
Participant 3 Male Australian Separated No No
Participant 4 Male Australian Unmarried No No
Participant 5 Male Australian Unmarried No No
TABLE OF PARTICIPANTS:
Name: Wong Mei Ling
Student ID: 2253693
Topic Code: PHCA 8011
Name of Topic: Focus Group
Assignment Number: 3 (Part A)
Lecturer name: Leigh Moore
Transcript from: Group Discussion on T2DM (Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus)- sometimes called adult-onset diabetes
with Mei Ling, Flinders University, Masters in Public Health student
Duration:1 hour 13 minutes
Broadcast:Tuesday 13 September 2022.
Guests:
Participant 1
Participant 2
Participant 3
Participant 4
Participant 5
Reporter:
Mei Ling
Presenter:
Mei Ling
Hello everyone, and thanks for joining. My name is Mei Ling, and Im the research student at Flinders University. At the onset, I appreciate everyones punctuality at this meeting.
You have been invited here to offer your views and opinions through a group discussion, on type 2 diabetes (T2DM) sometimes called adult-onset diabetes. This is a focus group interview. This interview is conducted for a study which is projected to be helpful for the population. We are considering the perspectives that you will share with us today as an understanding of the whole population. The results will be used for an assignment at my university.
There are no right or wrong answers in this focus group interview, instead, I would like to hear a variety of opinions from you regarding this topic. It is acceptable to disagree and provide criticism. I would love to know your thoughts and comments. It is essential that everyone gets an opportunity to take part, so please try to speak one at a time, if necessary. Throughout the conversation, kindly use your first names. With the use of a device namedSamsung A80, I will audio tape this session so that I will not have to depend on my memory. Once I have transcribed the recordings, I will erase them.
So let us begin by introducing ourselves. Let me start. I am Mei Ling. I am a university masters student at Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia. I am studying Master of Public Health. I enjoy walking, traveling, and cycling in my free time. That is pretty much about myself.
Participant 1 (P1) Hi everyone. I am P1. I am a Chinese by nationality. I am an exchange student at Flinders. I am doing literature studies here. I am into arts and culture and love pottery as a hobby.
Participant 2 (P2) Hello. I am P2. I am 39 and a mother of two. I work in the hospitality sector. Although I love cooking as a hobby, I do not get enough free time to pursue it.
Participant 3 (P3) Hi, I am P3. I am a construction worker. I work odd shifts and I spend my free time with friends and my son sometimes.
Participant 4 (P4) Hello everyone. I am P4. I am a lawyer. I seldom get time to pursue my hobbies.
Participant 5 (P5) Hi everyone. I am P5. I am a civil engineer by profession. My hobbies include travelling and singing.
Mei Ling - So, as you are aware this group discussion is on T2DM, I would ask all of you whether you are aware of this condition. There are many people in our community who are already victims of T2DM, what do you think? Describe the first word that comes to mind when you think of adult onset or type 2 diabetes as it is also known?
P1 I do not want it. I am aware, although I do not know all the specificities and I do not want to suffer from that disease.
P2 Thanks to the holy mother, I do not have it. I am aware that at my age there are chances of getting the disease but I do not have it as of now.
P3 Its great I dont have it.
P4 I should not get it. Due to all the hectic schedules and unhealthy lifestyles, this disease may get inflicted on me.
P5 I am lucky; I am not there yet. Ha-ha (laughing). I am happy I dont have it. Thats all I can say.
Mei Ling ok, quite variable responses. Now, Imagine I am a friend who knows nothing about type two adult-onset diabetes how would you explain it to me?
P1 It is a sugar-related disease. You should stay fit and eat healthily; otherwise, you will get this disease.
P2 When you have diabetes, your body can't use insulin as effectively as it should. It causes too much blood sugar remains in your system.
P3 When a person has diabetes, their blood glucose doesn't enter their cells as effectively as it should, thus it stays in the blood. This causes blood sugar levels to rise excessively high, which can cause symptoms like extreme thirst or frequent urination.
P4 Understand that having diabetes is neither "strange" nor the end of the world. Although millions of individuals worldwide live active, full lives despite having the deadly ailment of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin, but either too little of it is produced, or the body does not adequately respond to it (this is called insulin resistance). Being overweight makes a person more likely to have type 2 diabetes because excess body fat makes a person more insulin resistant. Although it's more common in adults, especially those who are overweight, this type of diabetes is also growing increasingly prevalent in children and teenagers. Some persons with type 2 diabetes must administer insulin intravenously and/or take additional medications orally (insulin cannot be administered orally).
P5 I will probably tell him that the utilization of glucose by the body is impacted by diabetes. Glucose from the food enters your bloodstream when you eat. After that, the pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which facilitates the passage of blood glucose into the body's cells for utilization as fuel. In T2DM, an adequate amount of insulin is not produced in the body.
Mei Ling Okay, so all are very helpful friends. Let me ask, how do you get adult-onset diabetes?
P1 Lifestyle aberrations, improper sleep, genetic factors.
P2 - A disorder in the body's ability to control and utilize sugar (glucose) as fuel is type 2 diabetes. This chronic (long-term) disorder causes the bloodstream to circulate with an excessive amount of sugar. Over time, cardiovascular, neurological, and immune system issues might result from excessive blood sugar levels. There are basically two interconnected issues at play in type 2 diabetes. The hormone that controls the flow of sugar into your cells, insulin, is not produced by your pancreas in sufficient amounts, which causes your cells to react poorly to insulin and absorb less sugar. Thus you get adult onset diabetes.
P3 Most kinds of diabetes lack a known precise cause. Sugar builds up in the bloodstream in every situation. This is as a result of inadequate insulin production by the pancreas. Diabetes of either type can result from a mix of hereditary and environmental causes.
P4 Excessive weight, inactivity, ethnicity, family history, age anything of these can be a reason of T2DM.
P5 Everything is already said, I guess.
Mei Ling So we can see that everybody agrees on the fact that weight is a strong contributor to T2DM. therefore, a healthy active lifestyle has to be followed.
Mei Ling Yes, right. So, what do you think is the main cause or causes of type 2 diabetes?
P1 It can be obesity, or the pancreas or the genes. I am unsure.
P2 - The main causes of type 2 diabetes are two connected issues: Insulin resistance develops in the liver, muscle, and fat cells. These cells don't absorb enough sugar because insulin doesn't interact with them normally. Insufficient insulin production by the pancreas prevents it from controlling blood sugar levels.
P3 Junk food, excessive drinking, stress, lack of sleep, sedentary lifestyle might be the causes of diabetes development.
P4 To assist your body store and utilizing the sugar from the meals you eat, your pancreas, an organ located beneath your stomach, releases insulin when you're healthy. Diabetes can result from any one or more of the following that are you don't produce any insulin in your pancreas, very little insulin is produced by your pancreas and insulin doesn't work as well as it should in your body. People with type 2 diabetes produce insulin, unlike those with type 1 diabetes. However, the amount of insulin their pancreas produces is insufficient, or their body is unable to adequately recognize and utilize it (known as insulin resistance.)
P5 - While not all people with type 2 diabetes are overweight, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are two of the disease's most common causes.
Mei Ling I can see that P4 has researched all the way through the disease.
P4 Yes, as there is no turning back, I try my best to be updated.
Mei Ling - What are some of the signs that you might be getting diabetes?
P1 Too much of urination, increase in thirst, slow healing of wounds.
P2 Yes, as P1 said these are the symptoms along with fatigue, hunger prangs, sudden weight loss and yeast infections.
P3 Oh, yes the yeast infections and the skin discoloration. No matter how they are, the weight keeps dropping.
P4 Yes, I second my fellow bench members. I would just add that the majority of the first-stage symptoms are brought on by blood glucose levels that are higher than usual. Sometimes the warning flags are so subtle that you fail to see them. With type 2 diabetes, this is especially true. Some people don't know they have it until they start having issues as a result of the disease's long-term harm.
P5 I have seen my colleagues with eye problems and renal issues due to T2DM.
Mei Ling Wow, we pretty much have it all here. To sum up, T2DM is a silent attacker that can sometimes act up without usual notice signs.
Mei Ling - What are some of the effects of type 2 diabetes over time?
P1 Hypertension, heart disease, kidney disorders.
P2 - Diabetes is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, hemorrhage, hypertension, and blood vessel narrowing (atherosclerosis) along with limbs with neuropathy, or damage to the nerves.
P4 Your fat, liver, and muscle cells do not react to insulin properly if you have type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance is what causes this. Blood sugar consequently does not enter these cells to be stored as energy. A high concentration of sugar accumulates in the blood when sugar cannot enter cells. It is known as hyperglycemia. Glucose cannot be converted into energy by the body. Type 2 diabetes symptoms result from this. Over time, type 2 diabetes typically develops slowly. When the condition is discovered, the majority of patients are overweight or obese. Your body has a tougher time using insulin properly when you have more fat.
Long-term, poorly managed blood glucose levels raise the risk of atherosclerosis, in which the blood arteries constrict and clog with fatty materials. The tiny blood vessels in your nerves might become damaged by high blood sugar levels. This may result in a tingling or burning pain that travels up your limbs from your fingertips and toes. Additionally, it may result in numbness, which may cause foot ulcers. Retinal blood vessels may develop blockages, leaks, or uncontrolled growth. This limits the amount of light that can reach your retina. Your vision may be harmed if the condition is not treated causing retinopathy. Your kidneys will function less effectively if their little blood veins become clogged and leaky.
P3 In Addition to P4, there may be sexual dysfunction as well.
P5 - Over time, type 2 diabetes typically develops slowly. When the condition is discovered, the majority of patients are overweight or obese. Your body has a tougher time using insulin properly when you have more fat. Even those who are not overweight or obese might develop type 2 diabetes.
Mei Ling - In your view, is type 2 diabetes preventable?
P1 Maybe yes.
P2 yes it is. It can be challenging to maintain changes over time if too many are made at once. Start by making minor adjustments to your daily routine, then progress to bigger ones. This will help in preventing the disease.
P3 yes it is. Adopting particular lifestyle habits, such as eating a balanced diet, exercising frequently, and maintaining a healthy weight, is the major way to prevent type 2 diabetes. Joining a diabetes prevention programme and practicing relaxation techniques can both help people reduce stress.
P4 Yes, it is preventable. I would add with P2. Remember that you are in this for the long haul, even though it can be difficult to stay motivated. Your chance of having diabetes is high, and you can't lower it by improving your diet or getting more exercise for a few weeks at a time. You can preserve these changes and look forward to a healthy future by including healthy meals in family life and moving more to get from A to B.
P5 yes, definitely it is preventable. The aforementioned lifestyle habits not only lower the risk of getting diabetes but also other diseases including heart disease. Additionally, they provide general health advantages including improved sleep and more vitality.
Mei Ling - What would you do to reduce the risk of getting type 2 diabetes?
P1 I do not want to suffer from diabetes. I want to stay in shape and healthy. I eat well and exercise well. I do not want obesity and diabetes to get to me.
P2 - Public health professionals would declare a crisis if type 2 diabetes were an infectious disease that spread from person to person. Due to the rising rates of children obesity, this challenging condition is now affecting an increasing number of adults as well as more and more children, especially those belonging to specific ethnic groups. However, most cases of T2DM can be avoided by regulating a weight that is healthy weight, being active physically, and eating a balanced diet.
P3 From my personal view point, you will have good and terrible days, just like anything else in life, but do not let a poor day discourage you. Bad days hit me badly, due to personal problems, I neglected my health. Set attainable objectives that are consistent with your way of life. Pick the nutritious foods and activities you enjoy most. You'll be able to stay on course with this. Additionally, consider anything that might prevent you from attaining your goal and make a plan on how to go around it.
P4 Get in shape and maintain. By lessening 5-7% of your beginning weight, you can probably to stop or delay the onset of diabetes. For instance, your objective would be to shed between 10 and 14 pounds from 200 pounds of your weight. More active movements in a week (5 days), engage in physical activity of minimum 30 minutes a day. If you haven't been active, discuss the ideal activities with a health care provider. Develop gradually toward your aim. Most of the time, eat nutritious stuff. Consume lesser calories every day to aid you go down on your weight by eating smaller portions or servings. A different approach can be the selection of foods with less fats and replacement of beverages with sugar with water.
P5 - Yes! You can decrease the high chances of developing type 2 diabetes, by making a few easy, achievable changes of your lifestyle, such as increasing physical activity and decreasing weight.
Mei Ling - In your view, once you have diabetes can it be reversed or cured?
If no, why if yes, how?
P1 I think no. I am not quite sure of the why. But it cannot be undone.
P2 No, it cannot be reversed. It can be managed with the medications and a healthy lifestyle but cannot be reversed.
P3 No. it is irreversible. If the medications are not taken, the blood sugar levels can shoot up at any moment. Life becomes difficult.
P4 the condition can only be managed. There is no scope of reversal to no-diabetes. However, the glycemic index is manageable.
P5 as everyone said, it cannot be reversed.
Mei Ling The key message I am hearing today is healthy lifestyles. So, to sum it up, we have learned a lot about all the things required for T2DM. Our lovely guests were well aware of diabetes type 2 and provided valuable insights on the topic. I thank each one of them for giving us their time for this discussion.
