Adolescents' experiences of living with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A scoping review

Type 2 diabetes mellitus has emerged as a major public health concern among adolescents; however, existing research has largely emphasized biomedical outcomes, with comparatively limited attention to adolescents' lived experiences, emotional well-being, and coping strategies. This scoping review aimed to synthesize qualitative evidence on adolescents' experiences of living with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Six electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched from inception to May 19, 2025, for peer-reviewed qualitative or mixed-methods studies involving adolescents aged 10-19 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Fifteen studies conducted across six countries met the inclusion criteria. The review was guided by the Social Ecological Model and adhered to PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. An inductive thematic analysis of the quotations and narrative descriptions reported within the included studies was conducted following Braun and Clarke's framework to identify patterns related to adolescents' lived experiences.

Five key themes were identified: (1) initial diagnosis, awareness, and understanding of type 2 diabetes mellitus; (2) challenges in treatment, self-management, and lifestyle modification; (3) complications and health outcomes; (4) psychosocial and emotional impact; and (5) coping strategies and resilience.

These findings underscore the multifaceted challenges adolescents face in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus and the need for supportive, developmentally appropriate approaches to improve their well-being.