The role of design as technology enabler: A personalized integrated predictive diabetes management system

Abstract

According to the International Diabetes Federation, in Europe 59.8 million people have diabetes and the number will rise to 71.1 million adults by 2040. Research on new models of care organisation demonstrates that advanced technologies and ICT systems and services may have the potentiality to respond to the increasing burden of diabetes and the complexity of managing it, and, in doing so, to contribute to the sustainability of health and care systems. In this paper we propose the development of a new Personalized Integrated Predictive Diabetes Management System, based on a design-driven approach in contrast with the technology–driven one generally used in medical field. The Novel System here presented is called Dia_Friend, an integrated care models, oriented to the needs of the user and focused on the way technology is used and shaped for him, instead of on the mere instrumental use of it.