Improved Self-Management in People with Type 1 Diabetes: A Qualitative Study of Sense of Coherence in Daily Life One Year after the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Denmark

Abstract

During the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) were worried, stressed, and experienced changes in their self-management practices. Studies found that many had difficulties managing their disease, while others showed improvements. Since the first lockdown, the virus and subsequent lockdowns have become a more regular part of everyday life. The present study investigated how the COVID-19 pandemic, one year after its outbreak, has affected self-management in people with T1D. The dataset consisted of seven semi-structured interviews with adults with T1D, which were interpreted using Antonovsky’s theory of Sense of Coherence (SOC). We found that the pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns had contributed to better self-management in people with T1D, as they had developed a strong SOC. Knowledge from healthcare professionals and their own experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic had caused them to experience stronger comprehensibility, which had been crucial to experiencing strong manageability, enabling them to make active choices to maintain good glycemic control. Furthermore, better opportunities and more motivation had allowed them to experience stronger meaningfulness regarding immersing themselves in their treatment. Our findings show that, during health crises, having a strong SOC is important for disease management among people with T1D.