title: Transitioning through college with diabetes: themes found in online forums.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Content analysis of Internet-based diabetes forum text was used to examine the experiences encountered by students with diabetes transitioning into and through college.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forum posts (N = 238) regarding attending college with diabetes were collected and analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thematic coding was used to identify prominent topics, followed by analysis of theme distribution across college transitional stages. Three students with diabetes were recruited to review results and corroborate findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty thematic categories were identified. Preparation for college involved efforts to move toward autonomous diabetes management. Transitioning in was marked by adjusting to a college lifestyle, then working to manage issues such as busy schedules and alcohol use as continuing students, and turning attention toward future career options and finances while transitioning out.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As they move into and through college, students with diabetes negotiate developmental and diabetes-specific tasks within an environment that presents unique logistical, lifestyle, and psychological challenges.
authors.forename: Russell D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Ravert
authors.forename: Suzanne A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Boren
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wiebke
mesh_terms: D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009862:Online Systems / Q000639:trends*; D011157:Population Dynamics / Q000639:trends; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities / Q000639:trends*
keywords: chronic illness; diabetes management; health education