Chair(s)

Introduction

Digital technologies are driving significant changes in healthcare, offering new solutions to assist in preventing, diagnosing and treating chronic diseases, while enabling the integration of care across settings and supporting the efficient allocation of staff and financial resources within constrained healthcare systems. Above all, digital technologies can empower patients to have more control and ability to manage their condition. Chronic diseases such as diabetes should benefit from these types of digital tools, given that they are a largely self-managed conditions, and especially data-driven. Digital therapeutics refers to the use of software-based interventions to treat or manage medical conditions; these interventions are designed to work alongside or in place of traditional medical treatments, and can include mobile apps, virtual reality programs and wearable devices. Digital therapeutics can be very useful for patients with diabetes, as they can help with monitoring blood sugar levels, tracking food intake, and providing reminders for medication. They can also provide education on diabetes management and offer virtual support groups. They can be used to help manage symptoms, track progress and the multitude of information related to the condition, and provide education and support to patients. Studies have shown that digital therapeutics can improve outcomes for patients with diabetes, such as by helping to lower HbA1c levels and reducing the incidence of diabetes-related complications. The integration of digital support into diabetes care poses many challenges. There are many new solutions on the marketplace but regulations and policy solutions must catch up to keep pace with the new technology. Countries are only now beginning to establish further procedures that allow for review, monitoring and better integration of digital tools into clinical pathways.

The goal of public policy should be to nurture a responsible and responsive environment that unlocks the positive potential of digital innovation, one that puts the needs of people with diabetes first. To realise the potential of digital health, two conditions must be in place: they must be easily available and accessible to people with diabetes and HCPs; and, they should meet high standards of effectiveness and quality.

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