Requirements of an Application to Monitor Diet, Physical Activity and Glucose Values in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: The Diameter

Abstract

Adherence to a healthy diet and regular physical activity are two important factors in sufficient type 2 diabetes mellitus management. It is recognized that the traditional treatment of outpatients does not meet the requirements for sufficient lifestyle management. It is hypothesised that a personalized diabetes management mHealth application can help. Such an application ideally measures food intake, physical activity, glucose values, and medication use, and then integrates this to provide patients and healthcare professionals insight in these factors, as well as the effect of lifestyle on glucose values in daily life. The lifestyle data can be used to give tailored coaching to improve adherence to lifestyle recommendations and medication use. This study describes the requirements for such an application: the Diameter. An iterative mixed method design approach is used that consists of a cohort study, pilot studies, literature search, and expert meetings. The requirements are defined according to the Function and events, Interactions and usability, Content and structure and Style and aesthetics (FICS) framework. This resulted in 81 requirements for the dietary (n = 37), activity and sedentary (n = 15), glycaemic (n = 12), and general (n = 17) parts. Although many applications are currently available, many of these requirements are not implemented. This stresses the need for the Diameter as a new personalized diabetes application.

Advancement in Dietary Assessment and Self-Monitoring Using Technology

“…A number of positive aspects, challenges and suggestions for improvement of the app were collected and reported [18]. An evaluation of mixed methods is reported in a study by den Braber et al to comprehensively determine the requirements of “The Diameter”: an app to monitor diet, physical activity, and glucose values in patients with Type 2 Diabetes [19]. The study provides useful insight for this population group.…”

Human Coaching Methodologies for Automatic Electronic Coaching (eCoaching) as Behavioral Interventions With Information and Communication Technology: Systematic Review

“…The human coaching process can be further enhanced through electronic modes, such as video, audio, email, chatbot, and text, with the support of information and communication technology (ICT), which is referred to as eCoaching. In the last decade, personal coaching for behavioral intervention has been increasingly used to promote a healthy lifestyle [ 17 , 18 ]. eHealth uses ICT for health [ 19 , 20 ].…”

“…An eCoaching system consists of a set of programmed modules representing an artificial entity that may look at, query, examine from, and predict a consumer’s behaviors in a specific context and in a specific period. Application domains of eCoaching include the following [ 18 , 23 - 55 ]: nutrition coaching, physical activity coaching, coaching for mental health, coaching for activities of daily living in the elderly, diabetic coaching, and cardiac rehabilitation. Studies in eCoaching can offer methods to enhance individual healthcare with ICT.…”

Design and Development of a Mobile-Based Self-Care Application for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

“…18 The patients are encouraged to monitor their dietary intake, physical activity, blood glucose levels, medication adherence, foot care, eye status, and other means of self-care. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] Mobile applications play an undeniable role in aiding patients to implement their self-management tasks. 15,18,[26][27][28][29][30][31] They also allow the patients to participate in society without the time and place limitations.…”

“…[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] Mobile applications play an undeniable role in aiding patients to implement their self-management tasks. 15,18,[26][27][28][29][30][31] They also allow the patients to participate in society without the time and place limitations. 32 Nevertheless, some patients, especially the elderly, face several hardships while using these applications.…”