Body Awareness Among Japanese Individuals with Prediabetes and Its Cultural Discussion

Abstract

　Background: The number of patients with diabetes is increasing globally, and prevention of diabetes has become a major issue. In order to support the promotion of self-care among individuals with prediabetes, who are asymptomatic, it was considered necessary to clarify their awareness of their own body rather than focusing only on the perspective of health providers. Moreover, body awareness is thought to be influenced by culture.
　Objective: The objective of the present study was to elucidate the body awareness among Japanese individuals with prediabetes and to obtain suggestions through discussions from cultural and nursing perspectives.
　Methods: A group interview and questionnaire survey were conducted after participation in a diabetes prevention workshop for Japanese men and women at risk of diabetes selected by convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using the qualitative synthesis method (KJ method).
　Results: A total of 10 individuals (two men and eight women; mean age, 62.5 years) participated in the study. Their body awareness included the following factors: "understanding of effects on the body", "prediction of diabetes and related impairment", "inheritance of blood, health, and diabetes", "understanding of own physical health and interest in overcoming weaknesses", "judgment based on indices and the resulting effect on motivation", "physical development in daily living occurs naturally", and "uncertainty of physical health".
　Discussion: The body awareness elucidated herein was thought to reflect various cultural influences, both historically and socially. In addition, from a nursing perspective, the results suggested that the subjects' awareness had a hierarchical structure, which warrants further investigation.