Background: Type 2-diabetes is now a public health problem, which constitutes 85-90 percent of diabetes care. The district nurse´s role in treating a diabetic (/person with diabetes) does not only comprise pure medical treatment but also support, advice and training to the individual. In our profession as nurses, we have found that medical knowledge in patients with Typ 2-diabetes is not always enough to obtain changes in lifestyles.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the illness perceptions in patients with Type 2-diabetes and their impact on health behavior.

Method: This qualitative study used grounded theory as a method.

Results: The informants described in the interviews, their perceptions of living with Type 2-diabetes. The analysis revealed the main category periodic health behavior built up on and related to five categories developed in data: preventive health awareness, guilt, confidence in medical treatment, motivational problems and periods of insight.

Conclusion: This study contributes to understanding of patients with Type 2 - diabetes their beliefs about illness and how it affects everyday lives.

Keywords: Believes, District nurses, Groundey Theory, Illness perception, Type 2-diabetes