Interview of a Diabetic Patient – A Patients Story

Umair Hassan F2018051015

Naeem Ullah F2018051006

1. Introduction
Grounded Theory (GT) is a research method concerned with the generation of theory, (Glaser and
Strauss, 1967) which is ‘grounded’ in data that has been systematically collected and analysed
(Strauss and Corbin 1994). It is used to uncover such things as social relationships and behaviours
of groups, known as social processes (Crooks 2001). It is a general methodology for developing
theory that is grounded in data which is systematically gathered and analysed.

2. Interview of a Diabetic Patient – A Patients Story

65 years Old Mr Aslam Butt was interviewed and was asked by the researcher to share his
experience about being a diabetic patient.

Interview of a Diabetic Patient – A patients Story

Data to be coded Codes Categories Themes

It is exhausting, both physically and mentally. Physical Exhaustion Time and Cause
It's constantly on your mind. You never get a of Disease
break from it. The greatest challenge for me is to
get a working daily routine when it comes to Daily Routine
food. It's a constant struggle. It's not easy, it's an Challenge
endless struggle to try to maintain good blood
glucose levels. Maintaining Glucose
When doctors initially told 65-year-old “Aslam” Level
he had diabetes, He said
“I was diagnosed with diabetes 25 years ago and Time of Diagnosis
Loss of Toe 'I couldn't
only when I lost my toe, I realised that my
handle the
diabetes was serious," he says.
pain'
'I couldn't handle the pain'
Type of Diabetes
Aslam, a type 2 diabetic, had puss oozing out Suffering from
Pain
from underneath her foot, not knowing he had
stepped into a drawing pin. Festering in Toe
“After the doctor examined my foot, it started
festering.”
But soon it was not just his toe that caused
Amputated the leg
problems. Six months after that first loss, he had
to have his leg below the knee amputated.
Reason behind
“I couldn’t handle the pain. It was excruciating,” Sever Pain diabetes
he says.

He was given six months to live because of his Poor Life style
poor lifestyle. A major
A major contributing factor contributing
Doctors Advice Fight Back factor
“Doctors told me, the only way to survive this
fight was to amputate my leg,” Aslam says.
Acknowledged the
He acknowledges that he had lived an unhealthy Junk Food
life style
lifestyle for many years. Working in a Teaching,
he did very little exercise and ate fast food and
drank Coke on a regular basis.
Pay attention to Ignoring Doctors
“If the doctor tells you you’re a diabetic, don’t Doctor advice
ignore it. Don’t get to where I am. The sooner
you accept things, the better it is for your
health.” Seriousness of
Disease
Only after his toe was amputated, did he realize
the seriousness of diabetes and how his lifestyle
was a major contributing factor to his situation.

At peace with the situation Leg Amputated At peace with

Accepted his fate
the situation
However, Aslam finally accepted his fate as a
diabetic after the doctor told him that his leg
would have to be amputated.
Pain Broken from
“I saw it coming. The pain was terrible. Inside
“I could no longer handle it. At this point I was Family support Positive Attitude
prepared; whatever came had to be.
“Anyone can survive amputation, with the
correct mental and family support. It’s important
Family accepted the
in the progress of the amputee,” he explains. situation
“I accepted it immediately and so did my family.
Calm at the situation Seeing it coming
A week later I got a call from the doctor to come
in with my family. I was seated in the middle
with various doctors looking at me, but I stopped
them and said, ‘I’m fine.’ My children saw that I
Occupation of Profession
was at peace with the situation and supported Patient
me.”
Butt Aslam is a teacher and running a private Constant worry
school and local welfare society and
dispensaries. Physical restrain Got its lesson The Hardest
The hardest part is constant worry and kind of Part
continuous emotional & physical restrain & Negative Things of
distress. Best thing about being diabetic is, it Diabetes Fluctuating Blood
taught me self-discipline and made me stronger Sugar Level
& more resilient.
The negative thing with diabetes is when people
at work ask if you can join them for something Cant go on Long Facing Difficulties
after work like a dinner with friends but you Weekends
cannot join them. Fluctuating blood glucose
level takes a lot of energy. It's sad not daring to
go on a trip, since it is a threat, it feels like a
lower quality of life. Life achievements

The other side of Helping others

“I’ve achieved quite a lot in these years that I reality Inner Peace
didn’t have my leg.

“I don’t think I would’ve achieved these things if

it wasn't for my foot. I wouldn't say it's because
of my foot, but if this hadn't happened to me. I
wouldn’t have the outlook on life that I have Healthy Life Contented
now,” he continues cheerfully.

Leisure Time
Telling Stories
He is now also leading a healthy life. “Having Sharing
Blood Donations Experiences of
my leg amputated was the best thing I could
Life
have done for myself.”
Great Blood
Butt Aslam often spends time with poor people
Donner
and aged people, telling them stories of his
previous life, how much healthy he was, donated
blood 58 times in early life. “God gave me my
situation to help others,” he maintains.

After transcribing the interview following themes were extracted

2.1 'I couldn't handle the pain'

Aslam, a type 2 diabetic, had puss oozing out from underneath her foot, not knowing he had
stepped into a drawing pin. He said

“After the doctor examined my foot, it started festering.”

But soon it was not just his toe that caused problems. Six months after that first loss, he had to
have his leg below the knee amputated

“I couldn’t handle the pain. It was excruciating,” he says.

He was given old six months to live because of his poor lifestyle

2.2 A major contributing factor

“Doctors told me, the only way to survive this fight was to amputate my leg,” Aslam says.

He acknowledges that he had lived an unhealthy lifestyle for many years. Working in a Teaching,
he did very little exercise and ate fast food and drank Coke on a regular basis.
“If the doctor tells you you’re a diabetic, don’t ignore it. Don’t get to where I am. The sooner you
accept things, the better it is for your health.”

Only after his toe was amputated, did he realize the seriousness of diabetes and how his lifestyle
was a major contributing factor to his situation. At peace with the situation
However, Aslam finally accepted his fate as a diabetic after the doctor told him that his leg would
have to be amputated.
2.3 At peace with the situation

“I saw it coming. The pain was terrible”.

“I could no longer handle it. At this point I was prepared; whatever came had to be.

“Anyone can survive amputation, with the correct mental and family support. It’s important in the
progress of the amputee,” he explains.
“I accepted it immediately and so did my family. A week later I got a call from the doctor to come
in with my family. I was seated in the middle with various doctors looking at me, but I stopped
them and said, ‘I’m fine.’ My children saw that I was at peace with the situation and supported
me.”

2.4 The Hardest Part

Butt Aslam is a teacher and running a private school and local welfare society and dispensaries.
He is very brave and has a positive attitude towards every situation of life. It becomes very difficult
for a person to accept such unusual happenings of life but with courage and determination you can
compete the odds.
Managing with changing blood glucose levels is not so easy, you will have to be vigilant about
your condition so it has both positive and negative things. As Aslam says
“The hardest part is constant worry and kind of continuous emotional & physical restrain &
distress. Best thing about being diabetic is, it taught me self-discipline and made me stronger &
more resilient.
The negative thing with diabetes is when people at work ask if you can join them for something
after work like a dinner with friends but you cannot join them. Fluctuating blood glucose level
takes a lot of energy. It's sad not daring to go on a trip, since it is a threat, it feels like a lower
quality of life”.

2.5 Inner Peace

The less we move, the more pain we have when we do move, causing us to move less. It becomes
a vicious and painful cycle. The only solution for this ‘un-movement syndrome’ is moving.

“I’ve achieved quite a lot in these years that I didn’t have my leg.
“I don’t think I would’ve achieved these things if it wasn't for my foot. I wouldn't say it's because
of my foot, but if this hadn't happened to me. I wouldn’t have the outlook on life that I have now,”
he continues cheerfully

He is now also leading a healthy life. “Having my leg amputated was the best thing I could have
done for myself.”
Butt Aslam often spends time with poor people and aged people, telling them stories of his
previous life, how much healthy he was, donated blood 58 times in early life. “God gave me my
situation to help others,” he maintains.

3 Conclusion

It has been concluded that major cause of diabetes is poor and sedentary life style. Taking huge
amount of sugar and junk food has made our life more prone to diabetes. Ignoring the small things
may lead to devastation as a small pin took Aslam to get his leg amputated. We must take regular
visits to doctor and should pay keen attention on doctor’s advice. Positive attitude leads you to a
greater, healthy life. We must be optimistic and face every challenge of our life with positive
attitude. Attitude means that which bridge to cross and which bridge to burn.