Exploring facilitators and barriers to self-management engagement of Chinese people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and poor blood glucose control: a descriptive qualitative study

AIMS: To explore facilitators and barriers to self-management engagement of Chinese people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Purposive sampling method was used for recruitment. Semi-structured interview and thematic analysis was used for data collection and analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-six semi-structured interviews were conducted. Poor blood glucose control introduced awareness of susceptibility to complications, while mental disorders could be concomitant. General knowledge about healthy lifestyle and unhealthy habits impeded lifestyle management. Temporary remission of hyperglycemia and no perceived symptoms interfered engagement of medication therapy and regular blood glucose monitoring. Family and work environments could impact self-management engagement. Accessibility to reliable diabetes-related information influenced self-management engagement. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of susceptibility to complications motivated self-management engagement, while the awareness could cause mental disorders that need to be addressed. Customized lifestyle plans and behavior change technologies were crucial for lifestyle management. The progression of diabetes, importance of continuity of medication therapy, and the value of blood glucose monitoring should be clarified in diabetes education. Building diabetes-friendly social environments and providing reliable diabetes-related information were essential. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12902-022-01214-0.