In patients with Type 2 DM, home BP monitoring is superior to clinic BP measurement, when compared with 24-h ambulatory BP, and allows better detection of hypertension. It would be a rational addition to the annual review process. Diabet. Med. 18, 431-437 (2001)

BackgroundMobile devices have become increasingly important to young people who now use them to access a wide variety of health-related information. Research and policy related to the integration of health information and support with this technology do not effectively consider the viewpoint of a younger patient. Views of young people with type 1 diabetes are vital in developing quality services and improving their own health-related quality of life (HRQOL), yet research on their lifestyle and use of Web and mobile technology to support their condition and in non–health-related areas is sparse.ObjectiveTo develop insight into young people with type 1 diabetes and their current use of Web and mobile technology and its potential impact on HRQOL. This can be achieved by constructing an in-depth picture of their day-to-day experiences from qualitative interviewing and exploring how they make use of technology in their lives and in relation to their condition and treatment. The goal was then to build something to help them, using the researcher’s technical expertise and seeking users’ opinions during the design and build, utilizing sociotechnical design principles.MethodsData were collected by semistructured, in-depth qualitative interviews (N=9) of young people with type 1 diabetes aged 18-21. Interviews were transcribed and loaded onto NVivo for theme identification. Data analysis was undertaken during initial interviews (n=4) to locate potential ideas and enhancements for technical development. Latter interviews (n=5) assisted in the iterative sociotechnical design process of the development and provided additional developmental ideas.ResultsSix themes were identified providing an understanding of how participants lived with and experienced their condition and how they used technology. Four technological suggestions for improvement were taken forward for prototyping. One prototype was developed as a clinically approved app. A number of ideas for new mobile apps and enhancements to currently existing apps that did not satisfactorily cater to this age group’s requirements for use in terms of design and functionality were suggested by interviewees but were not prototyped.ConclusionsThis paper outlines the nonprototyped suggestions from interviewees and argues that young people with type 1 diabetes have a key role to play in the design and implementation of new technology to support them and improve HRQOL. It is vital to include and reflect on their suggestions as they have a radically different view of technology than either their parents or practitioners. We need to consider the relationship to technology that young people with type 1 diabetes have, and then reflect on how this might make a difference to them and when it might not be a suitable mechanism to use.

No abstract

Views of young people with type 1 diabetes are vital in developing quality services and improving health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), yet research on their lifestyle and use of web and mobile technology to support their condition and in non‐health related areas is sparse. The aim of this research was to develop an insight into young people's current use of web and mobile technology and its potential impact on HRQoL by constructing an in‐depth picture of their day‐to‐day experiences, exploring how they made use of technology in their lives and in relation to their condition and treatment – then, building something to help them. Data were collected by semi‐structured, in‐depth qualitative interviews (n=9) of young people with type 1 diabetes and aged 18–21 years. Interviews were transcribed and loaded onto NVivo for theme identification. Data analysis was also undertaken during initial interviews (n=4) to locate potential ideas for technical development. Latter interviews (n=5) assisted in the iterative sociotechnical design process. Three suggestions for improvement were taken forward for prototyping with one – an alcohol education guide – being developed into a clinically approved app. This article documents the procedures and sociotechnical design principles involved in the creation of a patient‐centric app. It provides an innovative example of how education with the aim of improving HRQoL can be designed in a way which meets the needs of a particular group and values and encourages their input to assist in the creative process, while at the same time conforming to clinical guidelines. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons.

Data on reversibility of neuropathy are scarce and our 8-year series shows a continual deterioration in VPT in patients with a threshold > 25 V despite modest improvements in glycaemic control and lipid parameters. This work also supports a vascular association with neuropathy and identifies neuropathic patients as a high-risk cardiovascular group in whom, despite little influence on neuropathy itself, the above metabolic factors should be actively addressed.