Investigating Social Media Use by Young People to Self-Manage Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Large-Scale Analysis of Social Media Discussions Using Topic Modeling

Although our results confirmed social media's role in providing information and emotional and peer support, we also found that topics such as COVID-19, advocacy, and diabetes celebration are more frequently discussed in social media than in prior qualitative studies based on self-reporting. Platform-specific patterns are evident, with Twitter discussions being more immediate and experience driven, focusing on daily reflection, advocacy, awareness campaigns, and financial support, while forum-based platforms emphasize more in-depth discussions, where users seek and provide comprehensive advice, troubleshooting, and sustained peer support. Practitioners could consider the differences when designing digital interventions to ensure the delivery method aligns with the communication style and support needs of the target audience.