{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,21]],"date-time":"2026-05-21T17:18:24Z","timestamp":1779383904821,"version":"3.53.1"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,21]],"date-time":"2026-05-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779321600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose due to defects in insulin secretion or action, or both, leading to serious short- and long-term complications if not effectively managed. However, there is limited qualitative evidence exploring how youths diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) experience disease onset, management, complications, emotional adaptation, and education within the South African public healthcare system. The study aims to investigate the lived experiences of youths living with T1DM in a selected public hospital in Limpopo province, South Africa. The objectives were to explore and describe the lived experiences of youths living with T1DM. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual design was used to gain a thorough understanding of the experiences of youths living with T1DM. A non-probability sampling technique was used to select 12 participants using a pre-determined criterion. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews using an interview guide. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi\u2019s method, where themes and sub-themes were developed with the inclusion of an independent coder. Measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical considerations were adhered to throughout the study. The findings revealed that, despite the participants sharing the same diagnosis, they experience multiple interrelated barriers that significantly hindered effective self-care management, such as limited access to diabetic diet, glucometers and supplies, treatment and informational-related barriers, school-related challenges, transportation constraints and inadequate social support. Furthermore, the findings highlighted gaps in early recognition of symptoms, standardized diabetes education, psychosocial support, and continuity of care. The study recommends the need for holistic, patient-centred, and contextualized interventions that do not only address medical management but the socioeconomic, educational, and psychological needs of youths.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph23050684","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,21]],"date-time":"2026-05-21T16:46:18Z","timestamp":1779381978000},"page":"684","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Adaptation of Trajectory of Illness Framework to Assess the Experiences of Youths Living with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in the Rural Areas of Limpopo Province, South Africa"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"23","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-0267-8354","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Thembi Julia","family":"Motsepe","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing Science, School of Health Care Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X 1106, Sovenga, Polokwane 0727, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0483-1509","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gsakani Olivia","family":"Sumbane","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X 1106, Sovenga, Polokwane 0727, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1581-0041","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Takalani Edith","family":"Mutshatshi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing Science, School of Health Care Science, Faculty of Health Science, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X 1106, Sovenga, Polokwane 0727, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-3380-1318","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Leshata Winter","family":"Mokhwelepa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X 1106, Sovenga, Polokwane 0727, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2026","DOI":"10.2337\/dci18-0023","article-title":"Type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents: A position statement by the American Diabetes Association","volume":"41","author":"Chiang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Diabetes Care"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2012.05.009","article-title":"Predictors of deteriorations in diabetes management and control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes","volume":"52","author":"Hilliard","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. 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