Spirituality and Self-Management of Diabetes in African Americans

Abstract

Attention to spirituality is especially important for nurses when providing care to African Americans. Spirituality is deeply embedded in their rich cultural heritage. For many African Americans, spirituality is intertwined into all aspects of life, including beliefs about health and illness. Therefore, it is imperative that nurses understand the relationship between African American spirituality, health, and self-management of illness to provide culturally competent care to African Americans. The purpose of this article is to summarize the research literature on African American spirituality, health, and self-management as it relates to Type 2 diabetes, an illness that involves complex self-care management. Recommendations for holistic nursing practice and research related to this literature are also identified.