title: Adapting to diabetes mellitus: a theory synthesis.
abstract: One priority in nursing research is the development of middle-range theories that are applicable to nursing practice. The purpose of this article is to describe the development of a middle-range theory, adapting to diabetes mellitus, through theory and concept synthesis. The adaptation to chronic illness model explicates the conceptual relationships of the Roy adaptation model in a theory specific to chronic illness. Several concepts in the diabetes literature, self-management, integration, and health-within-illness were synthesized with the theory through examination of empirical evidence. This method of theory development increases the specificity of the existing theory and informs the application to nursing practice.
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Whittemore
authors.lastname: Sister Callista Roy
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations