Parents of Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: An Exploratory Study

As young adults with T1D navigate the transition process to independence, they often do so in partnership with their parents, who are tasked with providing support and guidance. At this time, however, no structured education program exists for these parents. In addition, little is known about their learning needs, levels of distress, and readiness to provide appropriate guidance for their emerging adult children. This represents a gap in the literature and an opportunity to undertake exploratory research to learn more about this population so that meaningful education and support can be provided.

Aim 1. To describe the lived experience and diabetes-specific educational needs of parents of young adults with type 1 diabetes who are transitioning to independence.

Aim 2. To measure the effect of a mobile diabetes education program on diabetes distress levels of parents of young adults ages 18 to 25 years who are transitioning to independence.

Inclusion criteria

• (1) Ability to read and speak English
• (2) parent of a child aged ≥18 years and ≤25 years with a diagnosis with T1D
• (3) must have access to a smartphone or tablet or laptop/desktop computer with internet access.

Exclusion criteria

• (1) Significant medical comorbidity in the participant that could, in the opinion of the PI, affect participant's capacity to complete study follow up;
• (2) inability to read and speak English.