The Behavioral and Naturopathic Diabetes Management Model for Men (BNDMM-M): A Holistic, Gender-Sensitive Approach to Type 2 Diabetes
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Abstract
Abstract
Men living with Type 2 diabetes often encounter challenges that complicate long-term disease management, including limited engagement with healthcare, cultural norms around masculinity, and behavioural patterns that reduce adherence to lifestyle recommendations. While behaviour change theories have informed many diabetes interventions, they frequently fail to capture the holistic scope of naturopathic care and the gender-specific factors influencing how men manage chronic illness. Concurrently, naturopathy offers effective lifestyle strategies, including dietary modification, physical activity, mind–body practices, and stress management, yet these approaches often lack structured support for sustained motivation and adherence.
This article introduces the Behavioral and Naturopathic Diabetes Management Model for Men (BNDMM-M), a novel theoretical framework designed to address these gaps. The model integrates behavioural determinants such as motivation, perceived risk, and self-efficacy with naturopathic interventions and the social and emotional realities of men’s lives. The BNDMM-M provides a holistic, gender-sensitive approach to diabetes care, emphasizing sustainable lifestyle change and self-management.
The framework offers practical insights for clinicians, public health practitioners, and educators, and underscores the need for future empirical research to validate and refine the model in clinical, community, and cultural settings. By bridging naturopathy, behavioural science, and gender-responsive care, the BNDMM-M advances the development of more effective interventions for men living with Type 2 diabetes.
Keywords: Type 2 diabetes, men’s health, behaviour change, naturopathy, lifestyle interventions, gender-sensitive care, self-management, adherence, motivation, chronic disease management
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