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Research Project: Preventing the Development of Childhood Obesity

Location: Children's Nutrition Research Center

Title: "Everything is so expensive": Financial experiences of adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D)

Author
item DESAI, KISHAN - Baylor College Of Medicine
item DURAN, BRENDA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item CARREON, SAMANTHA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item CAO, VIENA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item ESHTEHARDI, SAHAR - University Of Houston
item ANDERSON, BARBARA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item MCKINNEY, BRETT - Indiana University
item MARRERO, DAVID - University Of Arizona
item Thompson, Deborah - Debbe
item HILLIARD, MARISA - Baylor College Of Medicine

Submitted to: Diabetes
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2021
Publication Date: 6/25/2021
Citation: Desai, K.R., Duran, B.J., Carreon, S.A., Cao, V.T., Eshtehardi, S.S., Anderson, B.J., McKinney, B.M., Marrero, D.G., Thompson, D.J., Hilliard, M.E. 2021. "Everything is so expensive": Financial experiences of adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Diabetes. 70(Suppl 1):535-P. https://doi.org/10.2337/db21-535-P.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2337/db21-535-P

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Type-1 diabetes (T1D) is expensive to treat, and the lifetime economic burden may adversely affect quality of life. Despite attention to high costs of insulin in the popular press, little research has examined how people with T1D experience the financial aspects of diabetes. We characterized perspectives of adults with T1D regarding diabetes-related financial issues. Secondary analysis of qualitative data from 28 adults with T1D (M age= 42.8+/-15.9, 54% female). Semi-structured interviews were transcribed and coded using hybrid thematic analysis. We found 4 major themes: costs of diabetes, finanical impact, healthcare coverage, and personal & community factors. Participants discussed high costs of diabetes and making financially-guided treatment choices, some detrimental to health (e.g., rationing insulin). T1D-related financial impact interfered with spending money across life domains (e.g., retirement, family needs). Participants stressed needing employment for healthcare coverage to afford medical expenses and reported frustrations with poor coverage. Many described personal & community factors, such as awareness of inequities and sharing T1D-related financial support (i.e., monetary, emotional, supplies). The financial aspects of T1D are all-encompassing and can impact treatment choices and other dimensions of life, like retirement planning. Greater advocacy is needed to improve access to affordable insulin, supplies, technologies, and health care.