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The purpose of this study was to investigate how personal illness representations of type 2 diabetes affected the level of foot care knowledge and self-care strategies among African Americans adults. Thirteen African Americans (ages 32-72 years) participated in individual semistructured qualitative interviews regarding self-care practices and lower extremity disease knowledge related to type 2 diabetes. Using phenomenological methodology, all interviews were transcribed and analyzed by the research team for themes. Three major themes emerged from the interviews: basic foot care knowledge, lower extremity disease knowledge, and patient–provider communication. The study yielded that the majority of the participants lacked understanding of basic diabetic foot care as well as how lower extremity complications can evolve from uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. Diabetes self-management education is an essential …