The Role of Social Support on Coping Stress in Type‑2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients with Gangrene Complications

This study aims to identify how the type of coping stress strategy for the type‑2 diabetes mellitus patients, who experienced gangrene complication. Coping stress strategy is an efforts strategy to overcome feelings of stress due to illness. Coping stress strategy in this study is divided into two types, namely problem‑solving effort, and emotion‑focused coping. The method used in this study was a qualitative approach by taking three people with type‑2 diabetes mellitus and complications of gangrene as participants. The method used for selecting the participants was a purposive approach. The data were collected using structured interviews and field notes. The data was analyzed by using thematic analysis with a theory‑driven approach. The result shows that the three participants had a coping stress strategy to heal their stress while experiencing diabetes and gangrene complication. Patients were able to cope well with stress control routine, change their eating patterns, look for information on diabetes mellitus, and exercise regularly. Patients also got supports from professionals, family, and friends. Coping stress strategy techniques for each different subject depend on their surroundings. This study found that there is three dominant coping stress strategy chosen by the patients which are the planful problem solving and the seeking social support that belongs to the problem‑solving effort section, and the positive appraisal section that belongs to the emotion‑focused coping section. However, three patients also performed stress diversion, called escape/avoidance, to cope with their stress.