Corporeal and intersubjective lived experience of persons living with type 1 diabetes in the eHealth era

Diabetes is a chronic condition which is currently a major public health issue. Its burden, in terms of human and financial costs, as well as in disrupting people’s daily lived experience, is now well established. Several recent digital devices (continuous glucose monitoring systems, insulin pumps, hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery) aim to improve patient’s lives and claim to benefit their everyday life. These devices raise high expectations among patients. Literature is mainly composed of quantitative studies showing the benefits these devices have on physiological variables, but only a few qualitative researches focused on psychological and embodied experience of people using such technologies. Therefore, the aim of our study is to explore the subjective (embodied and psychological levels) and intersubjective (conjugal and broader social levels) lived experience of type 1 diabetic adults. To that end, our methodology is made of photo-production semi-structured interviews with patients (n=30). Data is analysed with thematic analysis method. In this presentation, we will first focus on two main themes identified through the analysis: 1. “The burden of diabetes”, pointing out everyday difficulties patients have to deal with; and 2. “Benefits and disadvantages of eHealth devices”, shedding light on a contrasted picture of digital tools for diabetes. Relying on these results, we will then discuss two reflexions. Firstly, regarding the issue of dealing with the appropriation of diabetes. And secondly, on the process of rediscovering oneself through eHealth devices