Stages of Grief and Therapeutic Adherence in People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: To identify the relationship between the stages of grief and therapeutic adherence in people with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Methods: Cross-sectional and correlational study, with a sample of 179 participants aged 20 to 70 years. Data collection were carried out in health centers in three locations in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. The Instrument to Measure Diabetic Stages of Grief and the Scale of Adherence to Medications in t2dm were used. Correlation analysis and a multiple linear regression model were performed. Results: Mean age 54.5 years (sd = 11.0), schooling was 5.3 years (sd = 3.8) and years with t2dm10.8 (sd = 7.1); 79.3% were women, 30.2% consumed alcohol, 10.1% smoked and 64.8% were overweight/obese. Therapeutic adherence was correlated with denial, negotiation and acceptance. In the linear regression model, only the stages of denial and acceptance were predictors of adherence. Conclusions: There is a significant relationship between therapeutic adherence with the stages of grief: denial and acceptance.