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Across the world, diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent and serious chronic diseases. In the United States alone, almost 16 million people suffer from diabetes, which costs many of them their eyesight, kidney function, lower limbs, or life itself, and costs the U.S. health care system billions of dollars. Currently, social work involvement with this chronic disease appears limited; however, social workers have the potential to make remarkable differences in the lives of people coping with diabetes. To facilitate involvement, this article outlines the basic aspects of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, its biopsychosocial challenges, and the roles health care social workers that may be assumed in assisting adult patients and their families.

Diabetes is a disease with menacing complications and demanding treatment regimes that confront those afflicted throughout their lives. Emotions are common responses to disease and illness. Unfortunately, few studies explore the emotions adults experience while living with diabetes. This qualitative study sought to identify the ordinary (non-pathological) emotions, specify their sources (causes, stimuli), and the effect of race on these experiences. A total of 76 emotions from 38 different sources were described by 34 subjects. Race influenced both the quality and quantity of the emotions. The length of time with diabetes, the number of complications reported, and the subjects' rating for diabetes self-management success also influenced emotion experiences.