Aim: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) disproportionately affects Māori and Pacific peoples in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Despite this, the lived experiences of T2DM and its management by Māori and Pacific peoples are scarcely acknowledged in health literature. The present study examines the lived experiences of T2DM by Māori and Pacific participants in the Mana Tū diabetes programme. Mana Tū is a Māori-led diabetes support programme co-designed by the National Hauora Coalition (NHC) alongside patients with diabetes, clinicians, health service planners and whānau ora providers.
Method: The study used qualitative methods underpinned by Kaupapa Māori (Māori approaches) approaches. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants of the Mana Tū diabetes programme and their whānau (thirteen Māori, 9 Pacific) from Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) and Te Tai Tokerau (Northland).
Results: The study identified barriers, facilitators and motivators for participants to live well with T2DM. Four key themes were constituted: (1) whānau experience of T2DM, (2) cultural safety in healthcare interactions, (3) whānau ora (collective family wellbeing) and (4) Kaupapa Māori approaches to health interventions. Themes were consistent across Māori and Pacific participants.
Conclusion: Findings suggest that Māori-led health interventions can better support Māori and Pacific people living with T2DM and are needed to ensure these communities receive appropriate, responsive and equitable healthcare.