Development of a web-based decision support system for insulin self-titration.

ABSTRACT

Insulin is the most potent agent for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. However insulin treatment requires frequent evaluation of blood glucose levels and adjustment of the insulin dose. This process is called titration. To guide patients with type 2 diabetes using once-daily long-acting insulin, we have developed a web-based decision support system for insulin self-titration. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the phases of development and the final design of the system. We reviewed the literature, consulted an expert panel, and conducted interviews with patients to elicit system requirements. This revealed four important aspects the insulin titration algorithm, the handling of hypoglycemic events, telemedicine functionalities, and visiting frequency monitoring. We used these requirements to develop a fully functional system.