To identify and describe the meaning of support and its impact on the life-situation of people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes mellitus in relation to gender, age and duration of disease.

Social support can buffer the level and effects of stress. Diabetes requires self-care that is demanding and may cause stress. No previous investigations focusing on the perceptions of people with diabetes, concerning the content, need and desire they might have for social support, have been found.

A purposive sample of 40 Swedish adults, 24 men and 16 women, diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes was included. Mixed methods were employed and qualitative data were collected by semi-structured interviews and quantitative data collected using the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ).

Participants described the meaning of support as mainly concerning informative and emotional support in managing diabetes. Women, independent of the duration of diabetes, experienced support as limited or non-existent when treated outside hospital/specialized care. Some men reported being given informative support and sufficient material support from health care professionals on diagnosis. Respondents considered the need for support individual, differing with regard to gender and age. Men were assumed to need more support and women were considered to have better networks. Younger people were perceived to need more support to learn to live with diabetes. NSSQ measurement showed people with diabetes scoring low figures on total emotional support, total aid and total function. Men scored higher on emotional support, aid and network than women.

Diabetes demands knowledge about managing the disease and self-care, which is why informative and emotional support is important to gain control over the situation. Informants had perceived lack of support, particularly during the process of diagnosis of diabetes, in their contact with physicians and with primary health care.