Empowering patients through a patient portal for an improved diabetes management

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is increasing worldwide. When compared with other chronic diseases, deaths due directly to type 2 diabetes are less. The problem though, is the mortality rates caused by the consequences of type 2 diabetes; complications that represent a major health burden which may destabilise health economies. Recognised complications are: cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, renal failure, retinal eye disease, and neuropathy leading to high levels of morbidity and mortality from heart attack, foot ulceration and leg amputation, stroke, renal failure, and blindness. Better care of type 2 diabetes and early recognition and treatment of its complications reduce levels of morbidity and mortality. There is a need to support the diabetic patient in achieving effective glucose control and life-style changes leading to improved nutrition and healthy levels of physical activity, and to early recognize and treat complications. To make this possible and efficient, a patient portal has been developed, as part of the REACTION platform, which supports interactions between the diabetic patient and both their professional and non-professional carers. Introducing the patient portal and the REACTION platform to real-life healthcare systems will empower patients more by increasing their ability to selfmanage, improve the quality of their life and the overall management of their diabetes, reduce the risk of developing complications and lessen their use of health services. © Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering 2013.