South Asian Muslim individuals' lived experiences of Type 2 Diabetes healthcare - 'I just want someone to actually break it down for me'.

Objective: Type 2 Diabetes is highly prevalent across Aotearoa New Zealand, and South Asian people have a disproportionately high burden of disease. This research aimed to improve understanding of South Asian Muslim people's experiences navigating New Zealand's diabetes healthcare to promote cultural responsiveness and equitable outcomes.

Method: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 South Asian Muslim individuals with Type 2 Diabetes. Interviews explored how participants made sense of their diabetes in relational and cultural contexts, and the healthcare barriers and facilitators they experienced. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to develop themes from the interview transcripts.

Results: Three key themes were developed: the feeling, managing, and reflecting on diabetes worry in relational contexts; the cultural and relational challenges of enacting self-control and discipline; and how diabetes is a family experience, for better or for worse.

Conclusion: These themes illustrated the multifaceted relational dynamics of navigating diabetes healthcare. Several avenues to consider for developing culturally sensitive diabetes care were suggested. This included: practitioners exploring dynamics of worry, shame and self-blame, building upon family supports, supporting reducing family-facilitated health barriers, addressing power dynamics which facilitate institutional distrust, and funding culturally appropriate, accessible community health interventions.