Diabetes technology: improving care, improving patient‐reported outcomes and preventing complications in young people with Type 1 diabetes

• Published in: Diabetic medicine 2018-04, Vol.35 (4), p.419-429
• Main Authors: Prahalad, P., Tanenbaum, M., Hood, K., Maahs, D. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biomedical Technology; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring - instrumentation; Child; Child, Preschool; Depression - etiology; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes mellitus (insulin dependent); Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - prevention & control; Diabetic ketoacidosis; Digital technology; Disease management; Early Diagnosis; Feeding and Eating Disorders - etiology; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin A - metabolism; Humans; Hypoglycemia; Insulin Infusion Systems - trends; Ketoacidosis; Male; Medical equipment; Medical technology; Microvasculature; Obesity - complications; Patient Education as Topic - methods; Patient Education as Topic - trends; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Patient-centered care; Patient-Centered Care - standards; Quality Improvement; Quality of Life; Self-Management - methods; Stress, Psychological - etiology; Teenagers; Telemedicine - methods; Telemedicine - trends; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0742-3071; 1464-5491
• DOI: 10.1111/dme.13588

With the evolution of diabetes technology, those living with Type 1 diabetes are given a wider arsenal of tools with which to achieve glycaemic control and improve patient‐reported outcomes. Furthermore, the use of these technologies may help reduce the risk of acute complications, such as severe hypoglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis, as well as long‐term macro‐ and microvascular complications. In addition, diabetes technology can have a beneficial impact on psychosocial health by reducing the burden of diabetes. Unfortunately, diabetes goals are often unmet and people with Type 1 diabetes too frequently experience acute and long‐term complications of this condition, in addition to often having less than ideal psychosocial outcomes. Increasing realization of the importance of patient‐reported outcomes is leading to diabetes care delivery becoming more patient‐centred. Diabetes technology in the form of medical devices, digital health and big data analytics have the potential to improve clinical care and psychosocial support, resulting in lower rates of acute and chronic complications, decreased burden of diabetes care, and improved quality of life. What's new? Diabetes technology presents the potential to make diabetes care more patient‐centric, improve care, and reduce current and future complications of diabetes. Optimal diabetes management requires both the medical and psychosocial needs of people with Type 1 diabetes and their caregivers to be addressed. Diabetes technology will play an increasing role in the future of diabetes care. The aim of this paper was to demonstrate how, by incorporating technology into diabetes care, we can increase patient‐centered care, reduce acute and chronic diabetes complications, and improve clinical outcomes and quality of life.