How adolescents with type 1 diabetes use technology during physical activity

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A usb device is sitting on a wooden table.

How adolescents with type 1 diabetes use technology during physical activity

We invited teenagers living with Type 1 Diabetes to share their stories with us using their own photos – and a combination of tweets, Facebook posts, and narrative stories. This allowed us to really hear and see what their real lived experiences are.

Dr Diane Morrow
Digital Health and Wellbeing Group, Department of Computer and Information Sciences

Project
Credits

Sharing stories

We invited teenagers living with Type 1 Diabetes to share their photos with us on a private social media group, using the SHAReD method.

Using technology with physical activity

We asked them to share their thoughts and experiences of using technology (like phones, wearables etc.) when engaging (or not engaging) in physical activity.

Physical activity... can have both a positive or negative effect on a person living with Type 1 Diabetes.

Giving teenagers a voice

We collected 120 photographs with personal stories. Some are from teens and some are from parents.

Extremely hypo

“Feeling super hungry after a long walk on the beach. I didn’t hear my pump alarm. Turns out I was extremely hypo.” (Teen)

Snackccident

“Yesterday I had a “Snackccident” at School after a torturous gym session. … My blood sugars were low but not hypo. I forgot to take insulin. My classroom assistant was not happy I stole the snacks.” (Teen)

I felt extremely tired and hungry. - Teen

I feel freedom

“I love going underwater in my swimming lesson. I feel freedom when I unhook from my insulin pump during the class.” (Teen)

The inside of a library with many books on the shelves.

Mum's spidey senses

“My CGM failed 4 days early and I didn’t feel the hypo I had walking to the library with School. Luckily my Mum came with me and her spidey senses were working.” (Teen)

Could not concentrate

“She tested my blood sugar with a finger prick and treated the low. I felt very hungry and thirsty and could not concentrate on what the class were doing.” (Teen)

The insulin delivery options of his pump help as does the support from his knowledgeable classroom assistants. - Mum

The stone stack fell

“These stacked stones remind me of the fragile balance we must keep every day between a multitude of varying factors to prevent my Sons’ blood sugar levels from toppling down into hypoglycemia when he is active each lunch break at School… Today the stone stack fell despite our best efforts. ” (Mum)

The battles we face everyday

“A lady objecting to my Type 1 9 year old son being in the Women’s changing room, before his weekly swim class, made me reflect on the battles we face everyday living with this hidden life threatening disability. ” (Mum)

The lack of empathy and understanding of Type1 by the general public makes living with this condition so much harder. - Mum

Oblivious

“She was oblivious to the fact that I was in the middle of treating a dangerous low blood sugar brought on by simply walking from our house to the pool.” (Mum)

Waking up sick and tired

“This morning I woke up feeling sick and tired because of the effects from my blood during the night. This image reminded me of the fact that I seem to be trapped in a never ending cycle of waking up sick and tired.” (Female teen, aged 13)

A view of the ocean through a chain link fence.

All I need in life

“These things keep me safe, active and healthy. I can only pull on my boots and play when all the rest are with me to allow me stay alive. … This picture is my life. My passion and my safety, the things I love most and sometimes detest but I know it’s what I need to have.” (Teen)

I’m thankful for this technology but I hate it at the same time. I love that I can be the same as others but at the same time i hate being different from everyone else too. - Teen

A pink calculator sits on top of a book.

Daily tools

“Just a simple Calculator, carbs book and notebook, but these have become daily tools in working out carbs before meal times. Etc. It can make meal times a frustration at times. But it’s been our life for almost 3 years now.” (Mum)

The kit monster

“I hate it when the kit monster comes, that’s how it genuinely feels to me. I hate changing my cannulas, testing my keytones and my cgm” (Teen)

A list of items that are laid out on the floor.

A small stream in a wooded area covered in snow.

Ending in disaster

“Sometimes the best planned trips end in disaster with diabetes. It started off a lovely crisp winters day, the plan to climb Ben Venue.” (parent)

Miles away from the car

“Despite utilising the temp basal function on the insulin pump and having plenty snacks, H sugars continued to drop. We were miles away from the car, with no hypo treatments left and H had to be carried the last half mile.” (Mum)

A frightening experience for us all. - Parent

Just wanted to "feel normal"

“Trick or Treating on Halloween. H just wanted to ‘feel normal’ and eat sweets with the other kids but H and haribos are not friends (except for hypos)…” (parent)

We had big plans

“No sporty picture today…we had big plans. H was supposed to be in a football tournament with the after school club against another school.” (parent)

A group of kids playing soccer on a field.

After school club

“I figured out the temp basal, sent all the info over, football kit etc and H wasn’t allowed to take part because he was misbehaving.” (parent)

He was devastated and I was too. - Parent

Missed out

“I felt I’d put in all that effort for nothing and although I know it was the right thing I was still sad that my boy missed out. So we made pancakes instead…..” (parent)

A stack of pancakes topped with whipped cream and chocolate.

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