Consumer issues in navigating health care services for type I diabetes.

Despite increasing interest in consumer awareness and participation in health care service delivery, there has been little exploration of consumer views in relation to services for people with type I diabetes. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory study was to identify strategies people with type I diabetes used to access health services and the barriers they perceived in accessing the services they needed. Data gathered in semi-structured interviews revealed that consumers experience significant barriers when navigating the health care system. Three dominant themes were identified. They relate to access to specialist medical skill, to the transition from teenager to young adult and to pre-pregnancy and obstetric care. Directions for change in service delivery and policy development are discussed.