Adolescents and type 1 diabetes: A grounded theory on adolescents' experiences of adaptation to type 1 diabetes

Purpose: Type 1 diabetes in fluences adolescents' health status and therapeutic management. Adaptation for adolescents with type 1 diabetes is considered a signi ficant issue for this cohort group and is based on many factors, including availability of resources, and family and community support. Thus, this study aimed to explore Palestinian adolescents' experiences of adaptation to type 1 diabetes in the West Bank. Design and methods: A qualitative grounded theory approach was adopted. The purposive sample consisted of fourteen adolescents aged from 12 to 18 years and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The data were collected using semi -structured and face-to-face individual interviews during the period from March to June 2023. A constant comparative method was used to analyze data. Findings: The core category had emerged with categories and subcategories. There were three categories and ten subcategories including dif ficulties in the management of type 1 diabetes, for example, "insulin injections, dietary management, and control of HbA1c levels ", burdens of type1 diabetes, for example, "burden regarding follow-up treatment, the burden of interaction and communication, emotional burden, and economic burden ", and fears and worries of unexpected future life, for example, "worries about disease complications, worries regarding social relationships, and worries about marriage and parenthood ". Conclusion: Adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes suffer from dif ficult experiences in fluencing their adaptation to this disease. Practice implications: Counseling programs concerning self -care management for those adolescents need to be developed in addition to support programs. Health education programs are needed to develop their adaptation and coping skills to these experiences. (c) 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.