What Is the Tech Missing? Nutrition Reporting in Type 1 Diabetes

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Digital Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) management requires numerous daily decisions, impacting quality of life.
• Existing T1D applications face significant user attrition, highlighting a need for better engagement strategies.
• Understanding user willingness to adopt technology is crucial for developing effective diabetes management tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the willingness of people with T1D (PwT1D) to utilize technology for diabetes self-management.
• To explore user preferences for nutritional tracking and technology engagement in T1D care.
• To identify key motivators and barriers for technology adoption among PwT1D.

Main Methods:

• An online questionnaire surveyed PwT1D and caregivers on carbohydrate estimation, nutritional tracking, and technology attitudes.
• Investigated preferences for reporting methods (typing, photographing) and timing (pre/post-meal).
• Assessed willingness to use app suggestions for insulin adjustment to optimize Time in Range (TIR).

Main Results:

• Improved TIR was a significant motivator, with 78% willing to adjust insulin based on app recommendations.
• Nutrition reporting preferences included 'type and scroll' (50%) and meal photographing (30%).
• Meal descriptions varied widely, from single words (42%) to full recipes (8%), indicating diverse reporting habits.

Conclusions:

• PwT1D demonstrate interest in technology that demonstrably reduces diabetes burden and improves TIR.
• Ecologically valid T1D technology must balance minimal user input with sufficient data for accurate glucose management.
• Future applications should focus on user-friendly interfaces and clear benefits, such as enhanced TIR, to overcome reporting fatigue.