Guyanese expatriate women ask: ‘Is it a touch of sugar?’

Abstract

Eight Guyanese expatriate women, who had been living in and around London for decades, came together driven by a participatory inquiry approach. Do we just have ‘a touch of sugar’ or is diabetes a serious affliction were questions asked. The study’s objective was to find answers to these questions. Three nurse academics, one a Guyanese/English woman herself, researched alongside participants. After several years of storytelling and group discussion (2010–2015), the women recognised that when they connected socially, the practical effect of togetherness was empowerment. Researching with participants fostered new understandings of diabetes and improved self-management of this chronic condition. This was achieved through the collaborative character of the inquiry and as a practical response to the problems women were facing. They continue to engage with each other and are reaching out to the wider UK Guyanese community. They have a strong voice about living well with diabetes and strongly reject the myth that diabetes is only ‘a touch of sugar’.