Framing Food and Diabetes

Abstract

To better elucidate the experiences and perspectives of youth and families living with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), we conducted survey research with 40 youth and their parents/caregivers. Youth were provided with disposable cameras and prompted to take 5 pictures that captured what diabetes meant to them accompanied by narratives explaining their photo choices. Demographic data were collected to examine possible variations in photos/representations, including gender, age, disease duration, socioeconomic status, race, and glycemic control (measured with glycated hemoglobin). Qualitative content analysis was conducted for photos and open-ended survey responses. Quantitative analysis included a comparison of means through Mann-Whitney U tests for statistical significance. In all, 68% of youth took at least 1 photograph of food, and 90% of parents/caregivers addressed food-specific issues, demonstrating 3 broad categories of representation: food as off limits, food as laborious, and food as exclusionary. The only demographic variable that proved to be significant was gender: male participants took more food-specific photos than their female counterparts (P ≤ .005). Food-specific issues signify challenging and negative aspects of living with T1D, and these experiences are particularly intense for male participants. The inclusion of patient perspectives through nontraditional methodologies such as photography could provide greater insight into adolescent perspectives.