A user-centered approach was taken to explore how a system can facilitate appropriate social support for young adults with Type 1 Diabetes, with the goal of reducing diabetes distress and supporting self-care during life transitions. This started with a non-reactive online observation (social media research) to understand which social experiences individuals with T1D perceive as supportive or challenging in their everyday lives.

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Building on these insights, the focus narrowed to how social support from loved ones could encourage self-care behaviours. This was explored through the concept of DiaDiary, which proposed experience logging and sharing as a means to support communication and understanding between young adults with T1D and their close network.

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Collaborative sessions with young adults with T1D included interviews, card-sorting exercises, and scenario-based research. These activities led to concrete design implications for a system that enables the sharing of self-care experiences in a way that supports autonomy and fosters more appropriate, meaningful social support.​