Wendy Xiuwen Chen
UX designer at BBC, based in London, UK
CV Email

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In-depth interviews

With the help of the internet and the Lambeth & Southwark Diabetes UK Group, I finally got patients who would like to participate in my project from USA/Russia/Arabia/Chinese family. My sample includes3 Type one diabetes patients, 11 Type two diabetes patients and 4people who are in diabetes family.

“I need to understand what I need to do, how many insulin, unit, cals. Just count. My life is like a calculator.” (Lucy, Type 1 diabetes patient)

"The food control would cause everyone's unhappiness when you eating out with others, so it is meaningless. No matter what happens, to maintain a happy life, and social social interaction can be carried out normally will be more necessary than to cause other people's unhappiness.” (Dan, Type 2 diabetes patient)

“Patient are all human being, even they know they can’t do something, people will still cheating sometimes. ” (June, Type 2 diabetes patient)

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Analysis and findings

I transcribed the interviews conducted with my samples and I used coding analysis to assist me in classifying the problems and opportunities. These interviews showed an unequal dinning atmosphere in diabetes family also exist because of this disease.

Here are some key painpoints:

Food can be a significant source of stress for diabetes patients in their everyday lives.

Diabetes can destroy the harmony of the patient's body and interfere with the patient's family and social life.

Patients tend to put the most pressure on themselves most of the time, rather than sharing the burden. When they are using diet to control their situation, they usually do not want to disturb others’ eating habits.

Patients tend to put the most pressure on themselves most of the time, rather than sharing the burden. When they are using diet to control their situation, they usually do not want to disturb others’ eating habits.