What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to investigate the self-management experiences of adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes using visual methodologies.

June 7, 2026

1579-P: Picture This: Navigating Type 1 Diabetes in Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Key Points

This study aims to investigate the self-management experiences of adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes using visual methodologies.
AYA with T1D uploaded daily photographs and captions for 14 days, reflecting their self-management experiences.
Inductive thematic analysis was performed on the photo captions to identify key themes.
A convenience sample of 19 participants contributed to the study.
The analysis revealed that self-management of T1D requires constant vigilance, impacting emotional well-being.
Participants reported feelings of isolation and self-judgment associated with their diabetes management.
Pets were identified as crucial sources of emotional support for AYA with T1D.

Abstract

Introduction and Objective: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) face unique challenges with diabetes self-management. We aimed to explore these experiences using photoethnography. Methods: As part of a larger psychosocial ecological momentary assessment phenotyping study, AYA with T1D were invited to participate in this optional 14-day sub-study. A convenience sample was asked to upload one digital photograph (photo) and caption per day representing their daily successes or challenges of living with T1D. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted on the photo captions using MAXQDA version 24 (Berlin, Germany) to summarize diabetes self-management perspectives. Results: Nineteen (out of a possible forty-two) participants (47% female and mean age 23 years (SD 3.8) submitted at least one photo and caption with a median submission of 3 photos (range 1-11). As shown in Figure 1, thematic analysis revealed that self-management of T1D in AYA demands constant vigilance which sometimes impedes emotional well-being. The emotional impact included feelings of isolation and self-judgment. AYA with T1D rely on pets as a significant source of emotional support. Conclusion: In this study, photoethnography using mobile technology was an accessible methodology that allowed for visual glimpses into the everyday life of diabetes from the perspectives of AYA with T1D. Further studies on how to best support the unique psychosocial needs of this age group with T1D are needed. Disclosure P. Voleti: None. M. Plegue: None. D. Hall: None. M. DeJonckheere: None. L. Ang: None. E. Hirschfeld: None. H. Centola: None. D. Albright: None. J. Lee: Research Support; Current; Lilly. Board Member; Ended; GoodRx. J. Iyengar: None. K. Mizokami-Stout: Speaker's Bureau; Ended; Viatris. Funding This work was supported by internal gift funds affiliated with Breakthrough T1D and Elizabeth Weiser Caswell Diabetes Institute at the University of Michigan and grant numbers P30DK089503 (MNORC), P30DK020572 (MDRC), and P30DK092926 (MCDTR) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

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Cite This Study

VOLETI et al. (Fri,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a250d2a7def13d035e1d342 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2337/db26-1579-p

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