Barriers to type 2 diabetes management in Australian gay cisgender men: First national study
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Addressing psychosocial factors in diabetes care has a significant impact on clinical outcomes. There is limited research exploring how Australian men assigned male at birth who identify as male and gay may influence the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D), creating a lack of awareness among healthcare providers and gay people living with diabetes. This study examined how sexual orientation impacts the experience and management of T2D. A sequential mixed-methods design explored the experiences of Australian men assigned male at birth identifying as male and gay with T2D. Two data collection phases started with an electronic survey of 83 gay men with T2D (7 screening, 63 questions covering characteristics and where sexuality and diabetes intersect) and 82 without T2D (5 questions covering thoughts on gay men with T2D), to explore community perceptions, followed by a second phase of 12 in-depth interviews with gay men with T2D. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse survey data, and reflexive thematic analysis, grounded in constructivist assumptions, was used for interview data. Twenty-one per cent of participants had not disclosed their sexual orientation to their doctor, indicating a prevalent barrier. Four themes emerged that reduce the ability of gay men to bring their whole selves into healthcare consultations, creating a barrier, including:[1] Discomfort around sexual orientation and diabetes; [2] Navigating uncomfortable patient-provider conversations; and [3] Sexuality and diabetes, an unknown connection. These findings underscore the need for tailored interventions by diabetes specialists or educators to address identity-related barriers and potentially reduce diabetes-related complications.
Journal
Canadian Journal of Diabetes
Publication Name
Canadian Journal of Diabetes
Volume
50
ISBN/ISSN
2352-3840
Edition
N/A
Issue
4
Pages Count
20
Location
N/A
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher Url
N/A
Publisher Location
N/A
Publish Date
N/A
Url
N/A
Date
N/A
EISSN
N/A
DOI
10.1016/j.jcjd.2026.01.003