Background: In Sweden, each year approximately 700 children develop Type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Objective: To describe youths’ experiences of living withT1D in relation to school.
Method: A qualitative research design, interviews with youth with T1D. The interviews were subjected to qualitative content analysis
Results: Three themes were identified: to be friends with the diabetes, striving for normality and receiving support from others. Living with T1D was a struggle for normality, independency and the youth needed to be friends with diabetes to handle everyday self-management. Although there are demanding life and school circumstances, it eventually becomes possible for the youth to handle the illness and to integrate and manage diabetes in school.