The lived experience of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: a phenomenological inquiry

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) is a complex, medical device for the management of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) that has gained popularity due to reported improvements in metabolic control and flexibility. Despite the growing number of CSII users, there is limited research exploring the everyday experiences living with this device. The purpose of my study was to understand the lived experience of adults using CSII therapy to manage T1DM. Accounts of lived experiences from eight individuals were collected through semi-structured interviews and then analysed using Max van Manen’s (1990) hermeneutic approach to phenomenology. Four substantive themes with supporting subthemes were identified including transitioning: not a quick fix; CSII: making an invisible illness visible; the internal struggle and impact on mental health; and, the impact on relationships and the meaning of support. Viewed together, these themes and subthemes represent the essence of participant experiences; that is, living with CSII eventually took ascendancy over managing T1DM. This research is one of few qualitative studies that explores the lived experience of CSII and has significant implications for healthcare professional practice, education, research, and policy and administration