A University of Pretoria master’s student is seeking adults living with type 1 or 2 diabetes to share their positive experiences, highlighting resilience and hope beyond the challenges of the condition.
A University of Pretoria master’s student is recruiting adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes for a study that looks beyond the usual focus on illness and complication risk to examine what it means to live well with the condition. Deané Booysen says the project, supervised by Dr Sonja Mostert, is designed to capture positive experiences that may help other people with diabetes find new ways of understanding their diagnosis.
The study is open to adults who have had a formal diagnosis for at least 6 months, are receiving treatment, are fluent in English and are older than 18. Booysen says participation involves a single one-on-one interview lasting about 40 minutes to an hour, either online via Zoom or in person, with anonymity and confidentiality promised. The project has received ethics approval from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Pretoria.
The call for participants reflects a growing body of research suggesting that diabetes can also be a site of resilience, not only difficulty. Recent qualitative work has found that many people describe better self-care, improved health habits, greater empathy and a stronger outlook after diagnosis, while other studies have pointed to the role of hope, self-responsibility and emotional adaptation in shaping quality of life. Researchers have also argued that these experiences can differ by gender, age and racial background, which may help explain why more personalised care is needed.
At the same time, the condition remains demanding. Other studies have highlighted the strain of daily self-management, the anxiety felt by family members and the practical pressures that can come with fluctuating blood sugar, work and relationships. Against that backdrop, Booysen’s study aims to add a more hopeful dimension to the conversation by documenting stories of coping, growth and optimism among people living with diabetes.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
