Digital Therapeutics and Type 2 Diabetes: A Review

Abstract

Digital therapeutics (DTx) offers a patient-facing method of treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This paper is a broad survey of DTx for T2D, applying DTx definitions and exploring therapeutic and behaviour-change mechanisms. We searched English language sources for candidate DTx through July 2024. We reviewed 64 candidate apps/interventions and found 12 that are DTx or DTx-adjacent varying by mechanism (providing information, inducing lifestyle change and helping with medication) and implementation. Four (mySugr, Dario Health, BlueStar, and Aspyre) met the strictest definition for DTx. There were no approved T2D DTx in east Asia. DTx offers proven benefits, but there are significant gaps in the current state of T2D DTx. Interventions that are anchored in a clear theory of human behaviour are scarce and there is a need for improved patient engagement, perhaps via methods using artificial intelligence.