DIABETES - AN ADOLESCENTS PERSPECTIVE

The personal meaning and perceived impact of insulin dependent diabete s mellitus (IDDM) were investigated in an exploratory study of 51 Finn ish adolescents aged between 13 and 17. Interview data were examined u sing continuous comparative analysis. The personal meaning of IDDM was described using the following categories: a habit; a little devil; a nightmare; stress; prison; death; and hell. A core concept to emerge w as that of control. Young people felt IDDM controlled, or limited, the ir freedom and independence. Two main themes emerged in terms of the i mpact of IDDM in the lives of adolescents: a threat to life's equilibr ium and a healthy lifestyle. Diabetes was viewed as a threat to physic al, psychological and social well-being which disrupted the balance of life. In contrast, the other main category, a healthy lifestyle, revo lved around the notion that having IDDM offered a unique opportunity t o live a healthy life. The results provided a useful insight into the personal meaning of IDDM and serve to raise awareness of the problems and difficulties experienced by adolescents with this condition.