This thesis provides an original evidence based on how and if religiosity influences Javanese Muslim adults with type 2 diabetes in managing the condition in their daily life. The study was influenced by the researcher’s experiences and background in two significant ways: first, clinical experiences as a general practitioner, and observations of how Javanese people manage chronic health conditions. Second, being a Muslim living in Yogyakarta for the last fifteen years gave insight to how Islam is practised in daily life both through rituals and social relationships. Further, being employed in the Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) also encouraged the researcher to consider the central role of Islam to medicine and academic practice, since UMY has a mission ‘to create men and women who possess personal integrity and Islamic morality in the context of individual or social environment’ (Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, 2013). Islamic values and principles are core and UMY aims to produce medical doctors that are not only equipped with the latest knowledge and sciences, but also possess an Islamic integrity and personality. All of the above factors encouraged the researcher to explore the role and meaning of religiosity among Javanese people in managing ill-health conditions. For the purpose of the thesis, the focus on diabetes as a chronic health condition serves as an example of how religiosity influences self-care. This introductory chapter discusses the ideas underpinning the study; highlighting the concepts of religiosity and culture and also explores the role they play in daily life among Javanese people, in particular, and more generally worldwide. The discussion examines the social, economic, and cultural contexts of Indonesia with a particular emphasis on Javanese culture. The role of religion among Indonesian people will be discussed to give a wider view and understanding of how religion may play a role in daily life, especially in trying to answer the question of how people with type 2 diabetes manage their life. The researcher’s perspective will be explored in this chapter in order to explain the underpinning idea of the study, although, more detailed explanation will be 2 found in the Methodology chapter. The aim and objectives of the study will be described in order to identify the gaps that this study attempts to address.