title: Helping Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes "Figure It Out".
abstract: The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of adolescent's experiences living with diabetes and build a theoretical paradigm for future interventions in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The adolescent's quest for independence, balancing blood sugars, and integrating diabetes led to increased conflict with parents which contributed to difficulty coping. One code in this study, "figuring it out", is the focus of this manuscript.
  
  
  METHODS
  Grounded theory with 15 in depth interviews were conducted with adolescents ages 11 to 15 with T1DM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A theoretical model about the concept of "normalizing" was identified. Normalizing was defined as the ability to integrate diabetes into the background of one's daily life to make diabetes 'part of me'. The fifth phase of normalizing was "Figuring it out" which had 4 sub codes: (1) learning to accept diabetes, (2) believing it's possible to manage their diabetes, (3) showing responsibility, and (4) staying on track, and the normalizing task was "accepting the new normal".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents with T1DM develop the understanding that diabetes is their 'new normal'. The use of motivational interviewing, goal setting, and promotion of self-management may be important interventions in supporting adolescents with T1DM to normalize their life.
authors.affiliation: Franklin, WI. Electronic address: bethbabler@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Babler
authors.affiliation: University of Washington School of Nursing, Psychosocial & Community Health, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Carolyn June
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Strickland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D002648:Child; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States
keywords: Adolescents; Normalizing; Self-management; Type 1 diabetes