“It's part of me”: A study of the self-construal of people with diabetes using wearable medical devices

This study examines how continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), a wearable medical device, and the lived experience of diabetes collectively reshape the self-construal of people with diabetes. Using “content-context diaries” combined with semi-structured interviews, the research explores how CGM shapes three interrelated dimensions of the self: the datafied individual self, the shared relational self, and the narrative collective self. These constructs capture individuals’ evolving relationships with health data, interpersonal interactions, and narrative engagement within online communities, respectively. Collectively, these dynamically interacting dimensions underpin a multifaceted and interdependent process of self-construal, ultimately culminating in what we term an Adaptive Health Identity. The findings also highlight a critical concern: individuals with limited technological or health literacy may face barriers in accessing CGM, emphasizing the need for supportive measures to foster its equitable development and sustainability.