Choosing digital health interventions to prevent and manage diabetes

The DISC Study team worked with the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation to create a guide for choosing a digital health intervention (such as apps, websites or wearables) to help prevent or manage diabetes.

We know that people from a South Asian background are at a higher risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. A range of interventions exist to help this population both prevent and control diabetes, such as apps and websites to support people to eat a healthy diet and take exercise.

Our findings from the DISC (Digital Interventions for South Asians with Cardiometabolic Disease) Study have shown that in the UK access, understanding and use of these interventions are affected by a range of factors. This includes age, literacy, language, socio-economic status, intervention design, and concerns about trustworthiness of these technologies. We heard from participants in our study that people would be more likely to consider using a digital health intervention if it was introduced to them, and the benefits were clearly explained.

We worked with researchers at the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) – Dr. RM Anjana, President, MDRF, and Dr. Ranjani Harish, Senior Scientist and Head of Department of Prevention and Digital Health Research (DPDHR) - to create an infographic for choosing a digital health intervention (such as an app or website) to help prevent or manage diabetes. The qualitative data was collected and analysed by Ms. Nitika Sharma from the DPDHR team at MDRF. We further heard from experts (such as doctors, nurses and diabetes educators) and people living with, or at risk of diabetes, and their caregivers at Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre in Chennai, India; which is the hospital arm of MDRF.

Through these discussions we heard about the types of digital health interventions patients are offered, what types of digital health interventions and features they found useful, and some of the barriers they faced to use digital health interventions. Using this information, we worked with a graphic designer from the Centre to create a first version of the guide, which listed simple steps to help choose digital health interventions. We presented this to experts and patients for feedback to make sure that all important aspects were included and the information is clear.

You can find the final version of the guide below in English, Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil and Urdu.

Choosing a Digital Health Tool Guide

Choosing a Digital Health Tool: English (PDF)

Choosing a Digital Health Tool: Bengali (PDF)

Choosing a Digital Health Tool: Hindi (PDF)

Choosing a Digital Health Tool: Punjabi (PDF)

Choosing a Digital Health Tool: Tamil (PDF)

Choosing a Digital Health Tool: Urdu (PDF)