The lived experience of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: a phenomenological study

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background</bold> Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases in adolescence posing a threat to health and potentially endangering life. It can have a significant impact on the physical, social and emotional development of adolescents. Understanding the lived experience of an adolescent with type 1 DM is crucial for improving their health outcomes and future aspirations. However, there is currently no study that highlights their life experiences in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the lived experiences of adolescents living with type 1 DM. <bold>Methods</bold> A phenomenological study was conducted among adolescents living with type 1 DM who received medical follow-up in Bahir Dar from March, 2023 to May 2023. The participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected through face-to-face in-depth interviews using semi-structured guiding questions developed by the authors. Credibility, dependability, transferability, and conformability were employed to ensure the quality of the data. Verbatim transcription and conceptual translation were done. Thematic analysis with ATLAS.ti 8.4.24 software was used. <bold>Results</bold> In this study, the lived experiences of adolescents living with Type 1 DM were presented in four themes: psycho-emotional experiences, challenges related to diabetes management and well-being, supportive factors, and coping mechanisms. <bold>Conclusion</bold> This study revealed that adolescents with DM were experienced social, emotional, spiritual and psychological challenges. They also faced issues related to adherence, sleep and insulin availability, as well as a lack of coping strategies. They relied on support from family, friends, schoolteachers, healthcare providers, and the community. Coping mechanisms such as avoidance, adaptation, and acceptance were utilized to manage their emotional challenges.