Understanding is conceptualized by Leventhal et al. (2001) as how one identifies
with one’s illness by interpreting symptoms, assigning labels, and perceiving
coherence (i.e., balance, such as symptoms being predictable and meaningful). For
example, diabetes is hallmarked by hyperglycemia; thus, having an understanding
of diabetes would mean that one recognizes symptoms of altered blood glucose, is
clear about the meaning of symptoms, and knows how to treat them.