Background: Diabetes type 2 is a chronic disease that can be life-threatening if not taken seriously. Diabetes type 2 is increasing worldwide and affecting people from different age groups around the world. Knowledge awareness introduced by health practitioners on how people with type 2 diabetes can avoid complications of the disease is important. Health care professionals play a vital role when it comes to assisting patients with type 2 diabetes in how to change their lifestyles. For this to occur it requires the healthcare professional to give clear information, support and motivate the patient to adapt to a new lifestyle. 

Aim: The aim of the study was to illustrate how patients with type 2 diabetes' experience their illness.

Method: The method used in this study was literature-based study, consisting of twelve qualitative articles. This was conducted and analyzed with the help of the five-stage model by Friberg (2018).

Results: Two major themes emerged: The inner struggle and meeting that can support changes. The result shows that people living with diabetes type 2 face lots of challenges regarding healthy eating and exercising. They also experienced different emotions such as being afraid of what the future holds and anxiety regarding complications they might also encounter. The result also shows that patients with diabetes type 2 rely on the health practitioners for instruction and motivation to implement a better lifestyle.

Conclusion: Patients have difficulties in changing their old habits and adapting to a new lifestyle. Patients also experience that it is easier for them to change their lifestyles with the support of health practitioners through motivational conversation, guidelines, and clear instructions on how to manage their diabetes type 2.