Every 1 Welcome: Using Language and Story to Shift Perceptions Around the Type 1 Diabetes Community

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease that requires extensive self-management. Due to the daily demands of T1D, young adult and adult type 1 diabetics often lose momentum when managing their disease. Through exploratory research, it became apparent that a type 1 diabetic who is highly engaged in the T1D community is motivated, inspired and empowered by what the community has to offer. This individual is more positively and actively in control of his or her physical and mental health, contributing to an increased resilience towards “diabetes burnout.” However, despite the incredible benefits offered by the T1D community, there is an overall lack of participation. A gap exists between what the perception of the community is, and what it actually can provide for a type 1 diabetic. This thesis aims to transform the T1D community into something more familiar and reassuring, in order to appeal to those individuals who currently disregard the community as a resource. Through this process, the intention is to encourage these individuals to engage in the community and indirectly defeat burnout.