Title: Technological solutions in chronic disease management for monitoring diabetes

Authors: Gregor Peter

Addresses: Institute of Health Care & Public Management, University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany

Abstract: In a challenging environment of demographic transition and tightening budget policy regimes, technological innovation and subsequent solutions come into the focus of healthcare decision-makers to improve the management of chronic diseases like diabetes against the backdrop of their rising prevalence. Within this context, the paper on hand presents ten effectiveness studies on diabetes monitoring systems currently on the market as well as innovational concepts that are being discussed. Aiming to shed light on the present outcome of such solutions in daily routine, three of the mentioned studies were selected for a more thorough review by applying a sound evaluation framework. Hereby, the considered real-time glucose monitoring systems, wireless and smartphone technologies illustrate improvement of diabetes monitoring and management within the studies' premises. This paper's review, however, cautions that in the light of methodological shortcomings in respect to generalisation and aspects of usability, the presented evidence should be considered limited meriting further research with a broader focus.

Keywords: diabetes monitoring; telemedicine; e-health; m-health; glucose monitoring; smartphones; health monitoring; disease management; healthcare evaluation; health informatics; biomedical engineering; bioengineering; electronic healthcare; mobile healthcare; chronic diseases; wireless technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2014.064829

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2014 Vol.15 No.4, pp.380 - 397

Received: 02 Nov 2013
Accepted: 18 May 2014
Published online: 21 Oct 2014 *

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