Purpose: To explore the experiences of daily life in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their parents living in
the West Bank in Palestine.
Design andMethods: A qualitative study using thematic interviewswas performed with 10 childrenwith T1D and
their parents (n = 10). Content analysis was performed with the assistance of NVIVO 10.
Results: The overall themewas facing the social reality of diabetes. Thiswas underpinned by two themes: stigmatization
and social constraints. Facing the social reality of diabetes described children and their parents' everyday
life attempts to place themselves within the context of the disease and social context. Children and their parents
described how stigmatization and social constraints impacted their daily life as a result of fear of disclosing the
disease, which could affect their social status.
Conclusion: These findings highlighted how daily life in children with T1D and their parents was highly affected
by cultural impacts, especially as stigma related to the illness affected social interactions of female and male children/
adolescents. Lack of knowledge andmisunderstandings about T1D in society lead to negative consequences
like poorer management of diabetes, and this becomes mediated by gender.
Practical Implications: The findings suggest health care providers need to be aware of the cultural and social impact
of T1D on children's and parents' daily life in order to meet their needs and challenges by providing appropriate
interventions, strategies and support.This research did not received any specific grant from funding
agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors
