Exploring the Lived Experience of Diabetes Through an Intersectional Lens: A Qualitative Study of Adults With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

BackgroundOur aim in this study was to explore the lived experience of adults living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes through an intersectional sex- and gender-based analysis plus lens. MethodsQualitative interviews with 15 adults (9 women, 6 men) were conducted in February and March 2021. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed for semantic and latent themes noting differences in participants’ accounts of living with diabetes by gender, age, race and ethnicity, type of diabetes and other key demographics. ResultsParticipants’ experiences differed substantively by gender, age and racialization. “Resilience” was identified as a central feature in participants’ lives. Factors that contributed to resilience included supportive relationships, a feeling of agency and social acceptance; confounding factors included unsupportive relationships, a lack of agency and experiences of stigma, discrimination and microaggressions. ConclusionsLived experiences of diabetes can best be understood through an intersectional lens that considers peoples’ diverse socioeconomic locations and identities. Those who experience discrimination, including women, older individuals and racialized people, may also experience the compounding effects of multiple marginalization, requiring greater investment in factors that contribute to their resilience. Considering the varied needs of diverse individuals should be integrated into routine diabetes care.