The project will explore the experiences of individuals living with diabetes during Covid-19 including the challenges faced in terms of self-management of the condition in the face of disruption to health services. Where possible, the project will also document the impact of attending structured diabetes education like the Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) programme on the lives of people with diabetes to better understand the benefits of such programmes and the process of adopting the programme principles in every-day life, particularly throughout the pandemic. A community-based participatory approach, called photovoice, whereby participants take photographs of important and meaningful aspects of their lives, will be used to offer an insight into the reality of living with diabetes during the pandemic. The project outputs will serve as a resource to raise awareness about diabetes management during Covid-19 and to highlight the role of education programmes like DAFNE. By documenting the perspectives of participants in an accessible and tangible way, generating knowledge within communities, this participatory project will allow us to inform policymakers and healthcare providers to generate actionable solutions to better meet the needs of this population. This could include reviewing and strengthening existing supports for individuals with diabetes to enable a better-informed response to future pandemics taking account the challenges faced by individuals with chronic conditions requiring careful self-management within the context of a global health emergency.
