| Popis: |
Introduction: Living with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) pose several challenges, particularly for athletes involved in physically demanding sports. Previous research has focused predominantly on clinical and physiological aspects of T1DM. How athletes in Sweden perceive themselves and the diagnosis in sports and within the sporting community, however, remains largely unknown. Aim: To understand how living with T1DM affects the identity and experience of being an athlete in a physically demanding sport. Method: Qualitative in-depth interviews with a semi-structured approach were used. A total of ten interviews with participants aged 19-44 years were conducted in Swedish over telephone or Skype, recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using template analysis methodology. Results: Three main themes were identified: 1.) “I am me, not diabetes”, 2.) Challenging but manageable and 3.) Mostly an open community. Acceptance was central, and the disease was sometimes seen as motivation, but not as identifying the individual or dominating their life. Maintaining adequate blood sugar values was, however, considered as the biggest challenge due to its impact on sports performance. The sporting community was overall perceived as understanding and accepting but the knowledge among coaches and others regarding T1DM was considered insufficient. Conclusion: Despite T1DM being a substantial part of their lives, it did not solely constitute their identity as individuals or athletes. Good control and constant watch were considered as key from a disease management perspective, but it was also challenging. The sporting community was perceived as mostly open despite lacking in knowledge about the disease. |
