Integration of the Vision of People With Diabetes Into the Development Process to Improve Self-management via Diabetes Apps: Qualitative Interview Study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a major global epidemic and serious public health problem. Diabetes self-management is a 24/7 challenge for people with type 1 diabetes that influences their quality of life (QoL). Certain apps can support the self-management of people with diabetes; however, current apps do not meet the needs of people with diabetes appropriately, and their safety is not ensured. Moreover, there are a multitude of hardware and software problems associated with diabetes apps and regulations. Clear guidelines are required to regulate medical care via apps. In Germany, apps must undergo 2 examination processes to be listed in the Digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen directory. However, neither examination process considers whether the medical use of the apps is sufficient for users' self-management. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to contribute to the technology development process of diabetes apps by exploring individual perspectives on desired features and content of diabetes apps among people with diabetes. The vision assessment conducted is a first step toward creating a shared vision among all relevant stakeholders. To ensure adequate research and development processes for diabetes apps in the future, guiding visions from all relevant stakeholders are required. METHODS: In a qualitative study, 24 semistructured interviews with patients with type 1 diabetes were conducted, among whom 10 (42%) were currently using an app. To clarify the perceptions of people with diabetes regarding the functions and content of diabetes apps, a vision assessment was conducted. RESULTS: People with diabetes have concrete ideas of features and content in apps to improve their QoL and allow them to live as comfortably as possible, such as informative predictions through artificial intelligence, improvements in signal loss and value delay through smartwatches, improved communication and information-sharing capabilities, reliable information sources, and user-friendly and discreet messaging options through smartwatches. In addition, according to people with diabetes, future apps should show improved sensors and app connectivity to avoid incorrect values being displayed. They also wish for an explicit indication that displayed values are delayed. In addition, personalized information was found to be lacking in apps. CONCLUSIONS: People with type 1 diabetes want future apps to improve their self-management and QoL and reduce stigma. Desired key features include personalized artificial intelligence predictions of blood glucose levels, improved communication and information sharing through chat and forum options, comprehensive information resources, and smartwatch alerts. A vision assessment is the first step in creating a shared vision among stakeholders to responsibly guide the development of diabetes apps. Relevant stakeholders include patient organizations, health care professionals, insurers, policy makers, device manufacturers, app developers, researchers, medical ethicists, and data security experts. After the research and development process, new apps must be launched while considering regulations regarding data security, liability, and reimbursement.

Vision-related quality of life and locus of control in type 1 diabetes: a multicenter observational study.

AIMS: Diabetic retinopathy remains asymptomatic until its late stages but remains a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness. We studied quality of life and the ability to deal with the discomfort deriving from the presence of a chronic disease in patients with type 1 diabetes and different stages of retinopathy. METHODS: Multicenter collaborative observational study involving nine centers screening for retinopathy in different areas of Italy. The National Eye Institute 25-item visual functioning questionnaire and the locus of control tool were administered to 449 people with type 1 diabetes between February 2016 and March 2018. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected. RESULTS: On multivariable analysis, severe retinopathy is associated with worse scores for general vision, ocular pain, near vision activities, distance vision activities, driving, color vision, peripheral vision and lower values of internal control, independently of visual acuity. Women had a perception of worse general health, distance vision activities and driving, and lower internal control and trust in others. Worse scores for visual-specific social functioning, visual-specific mental health, visual-specific role difficulties, visual-specific dependency and peripheral vision were associated with higher HbA1c levels. Fatalism increased with rising HbA1c levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that a gap exists between patients' knowledge and expectations on retinopathy and providers' expertise and assumptions. To bridge this gap, patient-centered education and engaging approaches may be more effective than simple information given during consultations.

Breaking Socioeconomic Barriers in Diabetes Technologies: Outcomes of a Pilot Insulin Pump Programme for the Underprivileged in Rural India.

AIM: To assess whether the socioeconomic and stereotypical barriers for the adoption of advanced diabetes technologies can be overcome in the underprivileged children and their families in India, predominantly from the rural areas, by providing insulin pump therapy (CSII) to deserving patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients were selected from the type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) database of the Kovai Medical Center and Hospital, Coimbatore. Sixteen people with type 1 diabetes (PWD) were chosen due to poor control or an urgent situation like pregnancy or renal failure. Demographic data along with variables such as age, sex, time of diagnosis of T1DM, duration of CSII therapy, total daily insulin dose, hypoglycaemias, hospitalisations, glycosylated haemoglobin pre- and post-pump were collected. The glycosylated haemoglobin values were collected at 3, 6 and 12 months, post-CSII hypoglycaemia was defined as self-reported hypoglycaemia by the patient. RESULTS: During 12 month follow-up, all 16 PWD were using the insulin pump with significant reductions in HbA1c from 11.4% at baseline to 8.0% (P < 0.001) and 7.6% at the end of 3 and 6 months, respectively. DISCUSSION: Our results indicate that the CSII therapy without prejudice can lead to significant reductions in glycaemic control, hospitalisations and quality of life. This pilot work will help us lobby government policy makers to ensure policy changes that help the underprivileged with T1DM in India.