Background: Diabetes affects individuals physically, mentally, socially and financially. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine what it means for patients to live with diabetes mellitus, to reveal patients’ feelings, thoughts and wishes, and to examine their perspectives and coping strategies regarding the disease. Methodology: This work is a qualitative study. The sample consisted of 37 patients. After the data were collected, content analysis was performed. Results: Out of the patients in the study, 3 main themes with 10 subthemes emerged from the content analysis. The results showed that diabetes adversely affected the participants’ lives; they experienced psychological, physical and social problems related to the illness; and they exhibited a fatalistic approach feeling convinced that everything comes from God and feeling thankful in coping with these problems. Conclusions: Diabetes patients deal with the difficulties they experience that a holistic nursing approach is required.