JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Diabetes is a major global epidemic and a serious public health problem. Diabetes self-management of blood glucose levels is a 24/7 challenge for people with diabetes, which influences their quality of life. Apps can support people with diabetes with their self-management, but current apps do not meet up with people with diabetes needs and patient safety is not guaranteed. Moreover, numerous hard- and software problems regarding diabetes apps and regulations and guidelines are still required to regulate medical care via apps.

Objective:

The aim of this study is 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.

Methods:

In a qualitative study, 24 semi-structured interviews with diabetes type 1 patients were conducted, among whom ten were currently using an app. To clarify the perception of people with diabetes of the functions and content of diabetes apps, a vision assessment was conducted.

Results:

According to people with diabetes, future apps should improve their sensor and app connectivity to avoid incorrect value display due to lack of sensor and app connectivity. They further wish an explicit indication that displayed values are delayed. Additionally, personalized information was found to be lacking in apps. The integration of AI allows future apps to predict blood glucose levels and provide personalized information to people with diabetes. Usability is to be improved by including modes for beginners and experts in future apps. Respondents preferred communication and sharing options with peers and diabetologists, but this has been absent. Future apps should therefore provide communication and information sharing options in the form of chat and forum functions. Lastly, it was noted that the alarm sounds of the apps attract too much attention from others, which, consequently, let people with diabetes feel uncomfortable.

Conclusions:

People with diabetes have concrete ideas of features and content in apps to improve their quality of life and allow them to live as comfortable as possible, such as 1) informative predictions through AI, 2) improvements in signal loss and value delay through smartwatches, 3) improved communication and information-sharing capabilities, 4) reliable information sources and 5) a user-friendly and discreet messaging options through smartwatches. The vision assessment conducted is a first step towards creating a shared vision among all relevant stakeholders. To ensure adequate research and development process for diabetes apps in the future, guiding visions from all relevant stakeholders are required.