It is considerably difficult for type 2 diabetes patients to change lifestyle according to professional guidelines. This contributes to controlling the disease below what is desirable and could increase morbimortality and health system costs with complications that could have been avoided. It is important to know this phenomenon for better intervention, therefore, this qualitative study explores experiences and narratives of 10 diabetic patients in the city of Salvador (state of Bahia, Brazil),

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... comparing them to the literature to analyze how health determinants may influence them. It is concluded that it is a multifactorial phenomenon and aspects such as conceptions about the disease and its control, use and access to health care, professional-patient relationship, social support and environment personalize each experience with the disease, which facilitates or not the motivation for change. Health professionals and public authorities should be sensitized to such aspects, and will find suggestions in this article that contribute to mitigating difficulties and facilitating a preventive lifestyle for patients.