To integrate and manage diabetes in school: Youth’s experiences of living with Type 1 diabetes in relation to school – a qualitative study

Abstract

In Sweden, each year approximately 700 children develop Type 1 diabetes. Living with the illness is a challenge for youth and requires adjustments to lifestyle, and to manage school. The aim was to describe youths’ experiences of living with Type 1 diabetes in relation to school. A qualitative research design was used and interviews were performed with eight girls and five boys with Type 1 diabetes. The interviews were subjected to qualitative content analysis. Three themes were identified: to be friends with the diabetes, striving for normality and receiving support from others. Results showed a need to increase the understanding of T1D and diabetic competence within the Swedish school system and knowledge of youths’ own experiences is vital in this work. Living with T1D was a struggle for normality, independency and the youth needed to be friends with diabetes to handle everyday self-management. Although there are demanding life and school circumstances, it eventually becomes possible for the youth to handle the illness and to integrate and manage diabetes in school.

Keywords:

• Type 1 diabetes
• Experiences
• Qualitative content analysis
• School
• Self-management
• Youth

Acknowledgments

To the youth for sharing their experiences.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Notes on contributors

Study design and data collection were done by MRH and MH, analysis Led by MRH with support from MH, IC, LJ, AA, SS. Manuscript preparation was done by MRH, MH, IC, LJ, AA, SS. All authors have contributed to development and revision of article.

Malin Rising Holmström contributed for children and adolescents’s health and illness.

Marie Häggström contributed for organizational models and intensive care.

Åsa Audulv contributed for self-management and chronical illness.

Lena Junehag contributed for child health life with chronical illness.

Imelda Coyne contributed for child-centred care, family centred care, transition to adult healthcare services.

Siv Söderberg contributed for living with illness, patient safety, health promotion/prevention.

ORCID

Malin Rising Holmström http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8669-416X