Always Connected, Never Off Duty: Family Experiences of Caring in Technology-Enabled Diabetes Care

The purpose of this study was to explore family experiences of caring for adolescents and adults living with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes in the context of technology-enabled diabetes care. An interpretive qualitative study was conducted with 24 family caregivers recruited through purposive sampling in Indonesia. Individual semi-structured interviews were undertaken from August 2025 to April 2026 and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four interconnected themes were identified: (a) Caregiving Without Boundaries , (b) Living in Continuous Vigilance , (c) Negotiating Care, Control, and Independence , and (d) Searching for Moments of Being Off Duty . Diabetes technologies extended caregiving beyond physical proximity, fostering continuous vigilance, reshaping family relationships, and prompting caregivers to balance protection, autonomy, and well-being while remaining digitally connected. Technology-enabled diabetes care fundamentally reshapes family caregiving as a continuous relational process. Family nursing should support sustainable caregiving by addressing not only technological competence but also caregiving boundaries, family relationships, and caregiver well-being.