Presenter of 6 Presentations
Sensor-Based Technology and Late Digital Adopters: How to manage patients overwhelmed by digital technology and information? (ID 1175)
Panel discussion (ID 1132)
Discussion & Closing (ID 1173)
Navigating the PwD choices in the digital universe of diabetes health apps (ID 1130)
Can digital applications reduce diabetes distress? - Results from the mySugr DVG study (ID 1171)
OP090 - DO MODERN DIABETES TECHNOLOGIES BURDEN OR UNBURDEN PEOPLE WITH DIABETES? (ID 621)
Abstract
Background and Aims
To date, there is limited evidence whether modern technologies lead to a reduction in diabetes-related distress or to new burdens. We asked both people with diabetes (PwD) and diabetologists for their assessment.
Methods
305 diabetologists (48% female, average age 53.7 years) and 2.417 PwD (47.5% female, 57.8% type 1 diabetes (T1D), 20.7% type 2 diabetes (T2D), 19.0% parents of children with diabetes; Ø 47.7 years) were asked via online surveys.
Results
Most of the diabetologists believe that for the majority of PwD (63.8%), diabetes related distress is reduced by modern technologies. However, they also believe that modern technologies cause new burdens in about one in four PwD (26,2%) due to, for example, being overwhelmed by technology, low digital literacy, disruptive alarms, skin irritation, or increased involvement with glucose levels. Also, most of the PwD has the opinion that diabetes technologies can significantly reduce the diabetes distress (64.1%). Among parents of children with type 1 diabetes this assessment is very strongly pronounced (75.8%), among PwT1D somewhat lower (64.8%), and among PwT2D significantly lower (49.6%).Overall, only 7% of PwD estimate that new diabetes-related distress will result from new diabetes technologies.
Conclusions
Most of the PwD and diabetologists perceive that diabetes technologies have the potential to reduce diabetes related distress. While PwD tend to estimate the risk of new burdens due to diabetes technologies as very low, diabetologists believe that about 1 in 4 PwD will face new burdens due to the technologies.