"I Don't Want to Feel Judged": A Qualitative Study of Adolescents' Experiences of Living With Type 2 Diabetes.

Objectives: Our aim in this study was to explore adolescents' experiences of type 2 diabetes (T2D), particularly those concerning 1) diagnosis and management and 2) emotional well-being.

Methods: Participants, recruited from an Australian tertiary pediatric hospital, took part in a focus group or semistructured interview. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results: Eight adolescents participated in the study (7 female youths and 1 male youth; mean ± standard deviation age: 16.2±2.3 years; median [interquartile range] diabetes duration: 1.7 [0.8 to 2.5] years; glycated hemoglobin: 7.5% [6.2% to 8.4%]; and body mass index z score: 1.97 [0.70 to 2.29]). Most participants (n=6) were from linguistically diverse backgrounds. Their diabetes management varied from lifestyle measures alone to medication(s). The thematic analysis generated 3 themes relating to diagnosis and management: 1) "Dietary modification as the biggest encumbrance in managing T2D"; 2) "Medications pose a significant challenge to managing T2D"; and 3) "The value of reminders in managing T2D varies in adolescents." Furthermore, 4 themes were generated concerning emotional well-being: 1) "Diverse feelings are experienced at the time of diagnosis"; 2) "Diabetes has varying impacts on the daily lives of adolescents with T2D"; 3) "Young people fear stigma and judgement"; and 4) "Having a good support network matters."

Conclusions: Adolescents with T2D experience difficulties with dietary modification and medication management. Adolescents' feelings at diagnosis and the impact of T2D on a young person's life vary. They fear judgement and stigma, and a diverse support network is paramount in supporting their T2D management and emotional well-being. The findings can assist health professionals in supporting adolescents with T2D.