An examination of adults' experiences of living with type 1 diabetes

The current study aims to understand better the lived experience of adults diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, a condition that is becoming increasingly common worldwide and in our country. In line with this objective, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants over 18 who had been living with this diagnosis for more than two years. The collected data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The analysis resulted in five experiential group themes and six subthemes: Meeting with Diabetes (two subthemes: Initial Reactions and Encountering the Boundaries of the Illness), Getting Used to Living with Diabetes (two subthemes: Adjusting to the Requirements and Companions in the Path to Adaptation), Taking Care of Your Own, The Mental Burden of Diabetes, and Perspectives (two subthemes: The Patients' View of Living with Diabetes and Others' Perceptions of Diabetes). Through these themes, individuals' experiences of living with Type 1 Diabetes have been presented as a continuous process starting from the moment of diagnosis. The findings have been discussed in connection with relevant literature.