The Role of Online Support Groups in Empowering People with Type 2 Diabetes in the United Kingdom

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health threats of our times and an urgent public health issue. In 2015, there were approximately 415 million people diagnosed with diabetes globally, a figure estimated to increase to 642 million by 2040. In the UK, over four million people are living with diabetes and the number is estimated to increase to more than five million by 2025. Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) form the majority (i.e. ninety percent) of the diabetes population. People with T2D control more than 95% of their care and health providers have little control over the management of the illness. They make daily decisions related to the management of their illness within the context of their personal goals, priorities, family and work demands, and health issues. Therefore, health care systems around the world, including the UK, the US and the EU, have attempted to empower patients so that they can take care of themselves and make informed decisions. The World Health Organization, NHS and European Regional Office have included empowerment and patient-centred practice as key elements in their health 2020 report. Online support groups (OSGs) are reported to serve as a new supportive environment that can meet patients’ needs to be empowered. OSGs have been found to provide emotional, informational and relational support for their participants. The aim of this study is to understand the role of OSGs in empowering people with Type 2 diabetes in the UK by undertaking an in-depth qualitative study.