Aim: The purpose is to describe self-care experiences of adult patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.

Method: A general literature study with a qualitative approach was applied based on Polit and Beck’s nine-step model. The searches were made in PubMed and CINAHL (2015-2025), from which ten qualitative original articles were selected. The articles were analyzed with thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke.

Results: Two themes were identified. One theme was Need for knowledge and support, of which two subthemes were created from it, namely The importance of knowledge and social support in self-care and Lack of professional support and follow-up. The second theme was Self-care strategies in daily life. This theme had two subthemes which were Daily implementation and Obstacles to self-care.

Conclusion: This study shows that self-care in diabetes mellitus type 2 has three problem areas: lack of knowledge, difficulties in implementing self-care due to the practical, social and economic conditions of everyday life, and challenges in putting recommended lifestyle habits into practice when these are not person-centered.

Suggestions for continued research: A need for in-depth knowledge of self-care management in diabetes mellitus type 2.