title: The clinical, psychosocial, and socioeconomic concerns of urban youth living with diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Young people with chronic diseases face the challenge of moving from the pediatric to the adult health care environment, in addition to the normal hurdles of young adulthood. To most effectively help them through this process, we must first understand their perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study of the social and emotional impact of having diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young adults (n=23), aged 19-26, who had been living with diabetes for a median of 12 years (range 4-19) were contacted; all but one were from underserved ethnic minorities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted, transcribed, and coded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Having diabetes profoundly affected the life choices and expectations of these young people; their feelings and attitudes evolved over time. Financial and insurance concerns were key, because managing diabetes care on one's own as an adult was a major challenge. Most young people reported that family, friends, and coworkers were sources of support, but that disclosure of their diabetes was problematic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Offering emotional and practical support to young adults coping with diabetes is key to ensuring adequate medical management as they move into the adult system and assume full responsibility for their health.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Oakland, Oakland, California, USA. lipton@uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gee
authors.forename: Tracie L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Marla
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Rebecca B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Lipton
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002641:Chicago; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*