Type 2 diabetes, a chronic lifelong condition marked by hyperglycemia, can
often be controlled with diet alone or in combination with physical activity
and medication. Associated with a hereditary predisposition, type 2 diabetes
has become epidemic and is now being diagnosed at an earlier age of onset
(American Diabetes Association [ADA], 2002). Patients who perceive heredity as a
primary contributor of their own development of diabetes have been found to have
poorer glycemic control (White, Smith, & O’Dowd, 2005).multigenerational legacy of diabetes, patients’ memories of their family member’s
thoughts about their diabetes may inform clinicians about the patient’s own illness
representation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if such memories influence
a patient’s illness representation of diabetes.