Table 2.

A summary of the study findings, outlining the generated themes and the subthemes

Theme 1 Diabetes knowledge & meanings	Theme 2 Dietary beliefs & practices	Theme 2 cont…. Weight beliefs & practices	Themes 3 Perceived diabetes risk	Themes 4 Perceived diabetes severity
1.1 Perceived diabetes knowledge Widespread experience & contact with diabetes. Everyone knew someone living with type 2 diabetes ✓ Self, ✓ Family member(s), ✓ Friend(s) and/or ✓ Colleague(s) 1.2 Perceived diabetes meaning Different meanings ascribed to diabetes due to poor diabetes knowledge, resulting in: ✓ Poor perceived risk, (increased susceptibility) ✓ Poor perceive severity ✓ Many perceived barriers ✓ Poor symptoms & complications recognitions Diabetes not perceived as: ✓ Serious ✓ Painful ✓ Infectious ✓ Permanent	2. 1. Dietary belief SSA cultural food perceived as healthy 2.1.1. Dietary practices Adherence to cultural carbohydrate rich dishes like: ✓ Cassava, yam, cocoyam, rice, potatoes, corn, plantain, wheat, corn, noodles and do forth Protein included ✓ Beans, red meat/meat parts & fish. Some carbohydrate rich common snacks including ✓ Pies, bread, chin-chin, puff-puff, egg rolls, gizdodo, groundnut and so forth Vegetables ✓ Limited availability of fresh cultural fruits & vegetables ✓ Dislike for some available fruits & vegetable alternatives due to taste	2.2 Weight beliefs Bulkiness perceived as ✓ Health & evidence of living ✓ Males fulfilling their gender roles ✓ The perfect body built for SSA Favoured & preferred 2.2.1 Weight beliefs from shared experiences of some slim participants Slimness perceived as hunger, poverty, ill health ✓ Some slim individuals take supplements to eat more to add weight to be accepted. 2.3 Exercise beliefs & practices Types of exercise ✓ Walking ✓ Dancing ✓ Hardworking Perceived reasons for observed limited exercise ✓ Limited time, ✓ Lack of motivation and social support, ✓ Laziness & tiredness ✓ May be only necessary in ill-health ✓ Not forming the habit early in life 2.4 Health beliefs & practices Delayed healthcare use ✓ Self-medication with over-the-counter medicines and/or traditional medicines ✓ Spiritual healing ✓ Denial Perceived reasons for scarce use of healthcare ✓ Not forming the habit of frequent check-up early ✓ Not used to going for check-ups in the absence of an illness back in Africa ✓ Booking for GP & hospital appointments as opposed to walk-ins in most SSA countries ✓ Difficulty in negotiating the healthcare system ✓ Delay in delivery due to not being taken seriously by health providers ✓ No culture sensitive advice from healthcare workers resulting in lack of trust ✓ Denial ✓ Cost	Poor perceived diabetes risks due to poor knowledge of diabetes, evidenced by diet, weight, exercise & healthcare-use beliefs & behaviours resulting in poor diabetes management & outcomes.	Poor perceived diabetes severity due to poor knowledge, poor perceived risk & many perceived barriers, resulting in poor outcomes.