Warnings about vulnerability in clients with diabetes and hypertension.

The purpose of the grounded theory study discussed in this article was to discover and explicate the basic social problem in clients with diabetes and hypertension that affects their adherence to health care directives. In-depth interviews with 21 clients with both diabetes and hypertension and 3 health care providers who care for such clients were concurrently conducted, coded, and analyzed according to the grounded theory method. Clients with diabetes and hypertension described being bombarded repeatedly with warnings about their vulnerability. The warnings were both external (coming from health care providers, family, and friends) and internal (coming from within themselves). Internal warnings were discovered to be far more influential in affecting adherence. This discovery can be used to shape health care providers' social interactions and treatment plan strategies with clients with diabetes and hypertension.