Zooming In, Then Out: Why We Must Apply Human-Centered Design to Transform Diabetes Technology

Technological advances in devices, such as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) or intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitors (isCGMs), do not necessarily by themselves translate to improved clinical outcomes or quality of life. Human-centered design (HCD) is an accessible, flexible process that could contribute to reducing the gap between current challenges and more optimal future solutions, by continuing to refine crucial considerations, such as usability. Starting with understanding the unmet needs of patients, cultivating novel and different collaborations, and applying humility to humanize technology are three facets underlying this approach. Human-centered design can help expand our perspective to serve as another essential tool to help further refine diabetes technology.