Mapping online peer exchanges on diabetes

Diabetes is a serious chronic condition affects the 10% of the world population; in order to avoid consequences, patients need to be able to self-manage their care & cure. Peer support groups help diabetic patients to improve their self-care; today they are simplified by the use of the Internet and Web 2.0. Even if the role of this medium into facilitate peer exchanges is well established, less attention is given to the way in which Web 2.0 contexts (e.g.: different Web 2.0 applications) could facilitate or inhibit the exchanges. The aim of this study is to understand the role of Web 2.0 contexts into shape online exchanges about diabetes in Italy. According to an ethnographic perspective, a systematic exploration of sites hosting exchanges about diabetes was developed. Findings show a map of different Web contexts and different online exchanges about diabetes, highlighting their main features and underlining relevant insights for the health expert field.