Computer‐assisted Diabetes Education and Information Technology in Diabetes Care

Abstract

This chapter overviews current applications of the use of information technology (IT) in clinical diabetes care and diabetes education. The main topics covered include (i) database systems (personal applications as well as hospital‐based systems and electronic patient records); (ii) computer‐based decision support (making use of algorithms, knowledge‐based systems, and telemedcine‐based prototypes); (iii) educational applications (including the use of simulators, games for children with diabetes, and CD‐ROM‐based diabetes teaching). Other topics addressed include obstacles to computerization, diabetes and the World Wide Web, and software evaluation. The chapter concludes that while there have been many computer prototypes developed in the field of diabetes‐IT, to date there have been relatively few successful products or applications. Reasons for this are discussed, and the need for much more rigorous program evaluation is highlighted. The chapter closes with a look to the future of possible applications of IT in clinical diabetes care.

Video Games for Diabetes Self-Management: Examples and Design Strategies

“…5,15 New ideas and theoretical models are emerging in the field of diabetes self-management video games. [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] These advances are providing a strong evidence-based foundation of behavioral health principles that could be integrated into the design of future games to more successfully engage and motivate players, improve and support their diabetes self-management, and lead to better health outcomes.…”

Interactive Educational Diabetes/Insulin Tutorial at www.2aida.info

“…It is also notably reassuring that the dangers of "chasing one's tail" when correcting blood glucose levels are highlighted. The principles underlying insulin treatment are not easily learned in a single teaching session 15 ; however, the application of the interactive simulator with this tutorial allows immediate experimentation and enables the user to learn with a more "hands-on" approach.…”

Information Technology in Clinical Diabetes Care—A Look to the Future

“…Reports can be found in the literature describing many of the individual components required for such a system. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Indeed, much of the hardware is already being marketed by various companies-for other (non-diabetes-related) uses. However, to date much of the research work, and even more of the software development, has been fragmented.…”